Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Douala Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Douala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Yaounde vs $1,675 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Yaounde vs $2,658 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,644 per month in Yaounde vs $3,641 in Douala, rent included.

Yaounde is about 56% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Yaounde sits 45% below the global median, while Douala is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 FCFA 2,806

$8.86 FCFA 5,087

-44.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.62 FCFA 25.6K

$124 FCFA 71.1K

-63.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 FCFA 3,246

$5.31 FCFA 3,051

6.40%

Cappuccino

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

$1.81 FCFA 1,037

50.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 FCFA 819

$1.72 FCFA 990

-16.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FCFA 379

$0.86 FCFA 494

-23.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 FCFA 664

$1.12 FCFA 645

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,005

$2.58 FCFA 1,481

-32.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 FCFA 1,641

$2.89 FCFA 1,662

-1.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 FCFA 583

$0.45 FCFA 259

126.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 635

$2.33 FCFA 1,337

-52.36%

Eggs

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

$1.93 FCFA 1,110

-7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 FCFA 8,123

$23.08 FCFA 13.3K

-38.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 FCFA 3,510

$8.01 FCFA 4,600

-23.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.89 FCFA 3,382

$6.39 FCFA 3,670

-7.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 FCFA 2,651

$4.84 FCFA 2,781

-4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 FCFA 1,192

$2.07 FCFA 1,190

0.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,183

$2.10 FCFA 1,203

-1.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 FCFA 711

$1.37 FCFA 786

-9.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 958

$3.27 FCFA 1,878

-48.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 832

$2.23 FCFA 1,279

-34.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 328

$0.73 FCFA 417

-21.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 FCFA 578

$0.62 FCFA 356

62.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 987

$3.54 FCFA 2,033

-51.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 FCFA 4,954

$8.89 FCFA 5,105

-2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 FCFA 734

$1.35 FCFA 775

-5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FCFA 891

$1.87 FCFA 1,076

-17.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 FCFA 349

$0.63 FCFA 361

-3.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 FCFA 9,981

$17.69 FCFA 10.2K

-1.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 346

$0.54 FCFA 311

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 FCFA 240

$0.77 FCFA 441

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 FCFA 3,319

$8.25 FCFA 4,735

-29.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FCFA 772

$1.37 FCFA 785

-2.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K FCFA 19.3M

$30.5K FCFA 17.5M

10.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.6K FCFA 9.0M

-0.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.6 FCFA 45.1K

$169 FCFA 97.2K

-53.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.11 FCFA 12.1K

$26.16 FCFA 15.0K

-19.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.48 FCFA 27.3K

$179 FCFA 102.7K

-73.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.58 FCFA 15.3K

$23.95 FCFA 13.8K

10.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.21 FCFA 4,140

$3.51 FCFA 2,014

105.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 FCFA 3,826

$8.68 FCFA 4,985

-23.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$335 FCFA 192.4K

$542 FCFA 311.0K

-38.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 FCFA 1.0M

$3,406 FCFA 2.0M

-46.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.31 FCFA 9,364

$81.0 FCFA 46.5K

-79.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.04 FCFA 13.8K

$68.3 FCFA 39.2K

-64.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.51 FCFA 11.2K

$142 FCFA 81.6K

-86.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 FCFA 33.3K

$157 FCFA 89.9K

-62.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 FCFA 85.4K

$907 FCFA 520.8K

-83.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 FCFA 69.4K

$588 FCFA 337.5K

-79.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 FCFA 285.7K

$1,907 FCFA 1.1M

-73.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 FCFA 144.5K

$1,115 FCFA 640.4K

-77.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 FCFA 497.3K

$2,022 FCFA 1.2M

-57.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$614 FCFA 352.5K

$990 FCFA 568.4K

-37.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 FCFA 105.9K

$215 FCFA 123.2K

-14.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

-68.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026

Last update for Douala: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Yaounde versus $907 in Douala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Douala, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Yaounde versus $124 in Douala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $284 – making Yaounde the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Yaounde vs Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 128%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Yaounde and $2,513 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaounde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Yaounde and $124 in Douala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Douala at $1,675. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yaounde – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Yaounde. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.