🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Yaounde versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,190 in Yaounde versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Yaounde versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Yaounde costs roughly 49% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yaounde is 45% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89FCFA 2,806
$13.07MX$228
-62.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.62FCFA 25.6K
$53.8MX$936
-16.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65FCFA 3,246
$9.68MX$169
-41.63%
Cappuccino
$2.73FCFA 1,566
$3.74MX$65.1
-27.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43FCFA 819
$1.62MX$28.13
-11.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66FCFA 379
$1.16MX$20.23
-43.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16FCFA 664
$3.23MX$56.2
-64.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75FCFA 1,005
$4.74MX$82.5
-63.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.86FCFA 1,641
$1.65MX$28.68
73.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02FCFA 583
$2.75MX$47.95
-62.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11FCFA 635
$1.87MX$32.63
-40.64%
Eggs
$1.79FCFA 1,028
$2.50MX$43.54
-28.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15FCFA 8,123
$10.20MX$178
38.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11FCFA 3,510
$8.25MX$144
-25.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.89FCFA 3,382
$11.82MX$206
-50.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.62FCFA 2,651
$3.01MX$52.4
53.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08FCFA 1,192
$1.81MX$31.54
14.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06FCFA 1,183
$2.00MX$34.81
3.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24FCFA 711
$2.00MX$34.74
-38.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67FCFA 958
$2.08MX$36.30
-19.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45FCFA 832
$2.27MX$39.56
-36.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57FCFA 328
$1.46MX$25.36
-60.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01FCFA 578
$1.08MX$18.74
-6.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72FCFA 987
$4.35MX$75.7
-60.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.63FCFA 4,954
$16.99MX$296
-49.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28FCFA 734
$1.73MX$30.18
-26.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55FCFA 891
$3.58MX$62.3
-56.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61FCFA 349
$0.39MX$6.74
56.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.38FCFA 9,981
$18.69MX$325
-7.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60FCFA 346
$1.33MX$23.08
-54.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42FCFA 240
$0.28MX$4.87
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78FCFA 3,319
$5.25MX$91.5
10.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34FCFA 772
$1.34MX$23.27
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KFCFA 19.3M
$19.4KMX$338.0K
73.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6KFCFA 9.0M
$23.8KMX$415.0K
-34.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.6FCFA 45.1K
$40.69MX$709
93.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.11FCFA 12.1K
$26.87MX$468
-21.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.48FCFA 27.3K
$30.51MX$531
55.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.58FCFA 15.3K
$52.8MX$919
-49.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.21FCFA 4,140
$26.65MX$464
-72.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66FCFA 3,826
$6.51MX$113
2.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335FCFA 192.4K
$428MX$7,454
-21.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,827FCFA 1.0M
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-82.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.31FCFA 9,364
$57.3MX$997
-71.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.04FCFA 13.8K
$45.50MX$792
-47.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$19.51FCFA 11.2K
$104MX$1,812
-81.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0FCFA 33.3K
$108MX$1,878
-46.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$149FCFA 85.4K
$1,003MX$17.5K
-85.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$121FCFA 69.4K
$623MX$10.8K
-80.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498FCFA 285.7K
$2,109MX$36.7K
-76.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252FCFA 144.5K
$1,218MX$21.2K
-79.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$866FCFA 497.3K
$3,885MX$67.6K
-77.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$614FCFA 352.5K
$2,033MX$35.4K
-69.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yaounde
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184FCFA 105.9K
$1,038MX$18.1K
-82.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
11.34
-47.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Yaounde and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 463% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Yaounde vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $292 per month, with Yaounde cheaper across the board.
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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yaounde and in Mexico City?
Yaounde and Mexico City differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($736 vs $1,456 including rent). Yaounde is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 463% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Yaounde and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $149 in Yaounde versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Yaounde and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Yaounde runs roughly 8% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Yaounde and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $335 in Yaounde versus $428 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $736 in Yaounde versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yaounde but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yaounde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yaounde and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Yaounde or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Yaounde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.