Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Penrith Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Penrith

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $725 per month in Yaounde vs $2,136 in Penrith, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Yaounde vs $3,163 in Penrith, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,665 per month in Yaounde vs $4,190 in Penrith, rent included.

Yaounde is about 66% cheaper than Penrith, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Yaounde sits 46% below the global median, while Penrith is 59% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 FCFA 2,747

$11.17 A$15.66

-56.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

$88.5 A$124

-50.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 FCFA 3,272

$9.75 A$13.67

-40.51%

Cappuccino

$2.59 FCFA 1,463

$2.64 A$3.71

-1.89%

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

$1.48 FCFA 834

$2.71 A$3.80

-45.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 391

$2.26 A$3.17

-69.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 661

$6.41 A$8.99

-81.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$4.49 A$6.29

-61.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.83 FCFA 1,600

$1.41 A$1.98

100.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 FCFA 558

$2.30 A$3.23

-56.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 624

$0.90 A$1.26

23.33%

Eggs

$1.83 FCFA 1,034

$3.38 A$4.73

-45.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 FCFA 7,881

$10.24 A$14.35

36.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 FCFA 3,567

$8.29 A$11.63

-23.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 FCFA 3,374

$14.46 A$20.27

-58.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 FCFA 2,615

$2.31 A$3.24

100.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

$2.89 A$4.05

-27.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,162

$2.99 A$4.19

-31.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 FCFA 672

$4.76 A$6.68

-75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 FCFA 906

$2.27 A$3.18

-29.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 FCFA 822

$1.90 A$2.66

-23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 324

$2.49 A$3.49

-77.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 FCFA 562

$0.77 A$1.08

29.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 978

$30.97 A$43.42

-94.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 FCFA 4,954

$14.92 A$20.92

-41.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 695

$5.22 A$7.32

-76.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 FCFA 906

$6.07 A$8.51

-73.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 337

$2.62 A$3.67

-77.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

$64.7 A$90.7

-72.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FCFA 365

$3.91 A$5.48

-83.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 FCFA 215

$1.72 A$2.42

-77.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 FCFA 3,158

$39.85 A$55.9

-85.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FCFA 761

$1.13 A$1.58

19.47%

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

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

$29.0K A$40.7K

14.12%

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

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

$23.3K A$32.7K

-30.70%

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

$79.3 FCFA 44.8K

$163 A$228

-51.28%

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

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

$29.58 A$41.47

-27.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

$52.6 A$73.8

-11.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

$48.41 A$67.9

-46.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 FCFA 4,095

$15.75 A$22.09

-53.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 FCFA 3,692

$13.47 A$18.88

-51.45%

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

$346 FCFA 195.2K

$1,756 A$2,461

-80.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

$13.1K A$18.4K

-86.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.69 FCFA 9,419

$71.0 A$99.5

-76.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 FCFA 13.5K

$56.7 A$79.5

-57.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

$97.7 A$137

-79.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.2 FCFA 32.9K

$114 A$160

-48.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 FCFA 86.2K

$1,117 A$1,566

-86.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 FCFA 66.5K

$1,083 A$1,519

-89.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 FCFA 283.7K

$1,989 A$2,789

-74.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 FCFA 144.6K

$1,654 A$2,319

-84.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 FCFA 500.5K

$6,090 A$8,539

-85.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 FCFA 353.4K

$5,081 A$7,123

-87.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 FCFA 106.8K

$2,517 A$3,529

-92.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.29

-4.61%

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

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Last update for Penrith: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Yaounde versus $1,117 in Penrith. 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 1231% higher in Penrith, 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 $44.00 in Yaounde versus $88.0 in Penrith. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $332 – 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 Penrith: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penrith costs about 195% more than Yaounde, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,088 per month in Yaounde and $3,204 in Penrith. 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.

Public transport costs about 264% less in Yaounde. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $346 per month in Yaounde and $1,756 in Penrith. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Penrith at $2,136. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penrith 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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