The Cost of Living in Cameroon for Expats

Published on April 24, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Settling in Cameroon can be both a winning financial bet and a real budget headache. It all depends on the city, the neighborhood, the desired level of comfort, and the type of contract you have. For an expatriate, the country offers a daily life that is generally cheaper than most Western countries, but with a striking paradox: rents “for foreigners” and certain services can reach levels comparable to Europe, in a context where the average local salary remains very low.

Good to know:

This article provides a detailed analysis of the budget needed for an expatriate, based on concrete figures. It covers the two main cities: Douala (economic capital) and Yaoundé (political capital). The expense categories analyzed include housing, food, transportation, schooling, healthcare, and salaries. It also covers administrative formalities such as visas, making it possible to establish a realistic budget before departure.

Overview: A generally affordable country, but a gap between locals and expats

On average, the cost of living in Cameroon remains below the global average. Estimates indicate that a single adult spends around $893 per month including housing, and a family of four around $2,159. Excluding rent, it’s around $483 for a single person and $1,489 for a family.

In practice, these figures reflect a “local average” standard of living. The average net salary after tax is about $124 per month, which covers only a fraction of these expenses. The cost of living is estimated at more than seven times the average salary, illustrating the gap between the “local” market and that of expats and elites.

500000

Minimum monthly net threshold in XAF to maintain an expatriate lifestyle in Douala or Yaoundé for a single person.

The contrast is even stronger in Douala, often described as “very expensive for Africa,” while the country as a whole is ranked around the middle of the global table in terms of cost of living.

Quick comparison for a typical expatriate

The table below provides an order of magnitude of monthly costs (excluding extras) for a comfortable lifestyle in a large city.

These amounts include housing, food, transportation, communications, and reasonable leisure, but not a luxury villa or international schooling for several children.

Douala vs. Yaoundé: Two capitals, two budgets

Douala, the economic capital, concentrates the private sector, multinationals, and a large portion of expats. Yaoundé, the political capital, houses institutions, embassies, and many NGOs. Both cities dominate the skilled job market and “expat” real estate, but their price levels differ markedly.

Monthly cost of living compared

Aggregated data for an expatriate lifestyle show very clear differences between the two metropolises.

In summary, living in Yaoundé costs about half as much as in Douala when housing is included. Rents are estimated to be up to 77% lower, restaurants about 45% cheaper, and grocery shopping nearly 20% less expensive than on the banks of the Wouri. This is one reason Yaoundé is ranked among the cheapest cities in the country, while Douala dominates national rankings for cost of living.

Warning:

For an expatriate paid in foreign currency, the budget difference can exceed several hundred dollars per month for equivalent comfort.

Housing: The top line of your budget

For expatriates, the heaviest expense in Cameroon is almost always housing. The real estate market is dual: basic offerings for the local middle class, and a very expensive, secure, often furnished segment targeting foreigners, multinational executives, and senior officials.

Average rent levels in Cameroon

National data provide an overview of “standard” rents (all cities combined), which remain well below rents in expat neighborhoods.

For an expatriate targeting a desirable neighborhood, especially in Douala or Yaoundé, these figures often need to be revised upward.

Douala: A tight rental market

Douala is by far the most expensive market in the country. Several datasets coexist, reflecting the dispersion of prices between “local” rents and the expatriate segment.

On average, for a single person, rent (including utilities) is around $748 per month, and for a family around $1,264. Other sources estimate that a person can find expat-style housing for $1,157 per month including rent, a couple for $1,615, and a family of four for around $2,271.

Since 2024, rents in Douala have been rising, with an estimated annual increase between 4 and 6% and a price per square meter 20 to 30% higher than in Yaoundé. The average rent per square meter is around 3,500 XAF per month (about $5.80), with a range from 2,000 XAF in cheap areas to over 6,000 XAF in premium locations.

Typical rents in Douala

Overview of average rents observed at the beginning of 2026 in the city of Douala.

Studio / 1-room

Typical monthly rent for a studio or one-room apartment.

2-room apartment

Typical monthly rent for a two-room apartment.

3-room apartment

Typical monthly rent for a three-room apartment.

4+ room apartment

Typical monthly rent for a four-room or larger apartment.

Villa

Typical monthly rent for a villa.

Single room

Typical monthly rent for a room in a shared house.

In the expatriate segment, these numbers shoot up sharply in certain neighborhoods.

Expat neighborhoods in Douala: Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Akwa

Bonapriso and Bonanjo, close to the administrative center and equipped with sought-after amenities (French schools like Dominique Savio, Casino supermarkets, restaurants, clubs), concentrate a large share of expatriates, especially French. Rents there are 60 to 100% higher than the Douala average.

The orders of magnitude often follow this pattern:

In these same neighborhoods, some expats mention that a 3-room apartment can rent for around €1,000 per month, while a comparable property would only cost €500 in a less prestigious neighborhood like Denver. A large four-bedroom house with a pool in Denver can be found for around €1,000 monthly, while a nice 2-room apartment rents for about €300.

More affordable neighborhoods (Bonamoussadi, Makepe, Kotto, Logpom, Logbessou, Ndogpassi, Denver) offer much more accessible rents, at the cost of sometimes long commutes in traffic jams.

For young professionals, Akwa, Bonapriso, and Bonamoussadi are very popular, with rents for a 1-bedroom typically between 130,000 and 300,000 XAF. Families, meanwhile, tend to favor Bonapriso, Bonamoussadi, or Makepe, where a comfortable 2–3 bedroom negotiates between 250,000 and 600,000 XAF.

Yaoundé: Gentler rents, even in upscale neighborhoods

In Yaoundé, rents are on average much lower than in Douala. You can find studios for less than 150,000 XAF and two-bedroom apartments in intermediate neighborhoods for between 150,000 and 250,000 XAF.

150000

The median monthly rent for a room in the city center is around 150,000 XAF.

The Bastos neighborhood, very popular with embassies and NGOs, is the Yaoundé equivalent of Bonapriso: rents there are “very high,” with furnished units potentially exceeding 700,000 XAF per month. Nationally, the three most expensive areas are Bonapriso (Douala), Bastos (Yaoundé), and Bonanjo (Douala), where a simple 1-bedroom can average 380,000 to 450,000 XAF.

Furnished, generator, security: the add-ons that blow up the bill

An important fact for expats: most local tenants look for unfurnished housing (70 to 75%), while 25 to 30% of tenants — including many foreigners — want furnished. Landlords charge a premium for this demand: a furnished apartment often costs 40 to 70% more than an equivalent unfurnished unit, representing between 60,000 and 150,000 XAF in extra monthly costs.

Technical and security equipment play the same role of price accelerator:

Example:

Adding a generator or an inverter can increase rent by 15 to 25% (i.e., an additional 25,000 to 50,000 XAF per month), for an initial investment of 500,000 to 1.5 million XAF. A secure parking space, enhanced security guard service, or improved fencing often add 10 to 15% to the rent, with initial work costing between 200,000 and 600,000 XAF. Finally, widespread air conditioning in the house can increase rent by 5 to 10%.

From the landlord’s perspective, annual property-related charges (maintenance, minor repairs, property taxes tied to rent) amount to around 1.5 to 3% of the property’s value, typically between 300,000 and 800,000 XAF per year for a mid-range apartment. Many landlords set aside the equivalent of one to two months’ rent per year for maintenance.

Rent advances: a culture shock for newcomers

Another factor not to underestimate: payment terms. In both Douala and Yaoundé, it is common for landlords to require between 6 and 12 months’ rent in advance for the first year of the lease. This cash flow block can be significant for an unprepared expat. After the first year, it’s often possible to switch to monthly billing.

In parallel, the rise of “aparthotels” and short-term furnished rentals allows stays of a few weeks or months, but at a high price: a night can cost up to 20,000 XAF, and some landlords charge 20,000 XAF per day for a 1-bedroom for three months of rent — equivalent to a monthly rent of over 600,000 XAF.

Food: affordable groceries, very variable restaurants

On the food front, Cameroon remains generally cheap, especially if you favor local products and markets over supermarkets catering to the wealthy.

Nationally, the food budget is estimated around $334 per month for one person and $906 for a family. Again, Douala stands out with higher prices than Yaoundé.

Douala: a more expensive grocery basket

In Douala, a person spends on average around $430 per month on food, compared to $317 in Yaoundé. Basic products remain affordable, but imports (cheeses, Western products, wines) can quickly eat into the budget.

Some average price benchmarks in Douala:

Beverages follow the same logic:

Eating at “snack bars” or small local restaurants, an expat can lunch for the equivalent of $2 to $3 per meal. A lunch set menu in a business area is estimated around $8–$9, while a more refined dinner for two can reach surprising levels: some reports mention up to $124 for a meal for two in a high-end restaurant in Douala.

5

This is the average price in dollars for a McDonald’s-style fast food meal, making them relatively affordable.

Yaoundé: a slightly softer basket

In Yaoundé, the price structure is similar, but generally 20% lower for groceries and significantly cheaper for dining out. A person spends an average of $317 per month on food.

Tip:

The unit prices of basic products like milk, eggs, meat, and fruit remain comparable to those in Douala. However, restaurants are generally less expensive: a standard lunch costs about $5.30, a fast-food meal around $5.30, and a dinner for two in a good restaurant ranges between $50 and $53.

Strategies to reduce the food bill

For an expatriate, the food budget varies enormously depending on habits:

– cooking yourself by buying fruits, vegetables, meats, and starches at the market allows you to stay in a range of $150 to $250 per month for one person.

– regularly shopping at imported supermarkets in Douala or Yaoundé, with European cheeses, wines, and processed products, can easily push the bill toward $400–$500 monthly.

– multiplying mid/high-end restaurant meals, especially in expat neighborhoods, can add several hundred dollars to the budget.

A reasonable combination of market + some supermarkets + local restaurants remains, for many expats, the best cost/comfort compromise.

Transport: cheap for daily commutes, costly for a car

When it comes to daily transport, Cameroon remains rather cheap, especially compared to Western countries. It is the purchase and use of a personal car, very popular among expats, that can weigh heavily.

Average transport costs

Nationally, an adult spends around $59.5 per month on transportation, and a family of four about $162. In Douala, the average individual budget is estimated at $67.90 per month and in Yaoundé $65.30, for fairly similar service levels.

Some common benchmarks:

Shared taxis and city buses remain the most economical solution, with urban trips often costing between 200 and 400 XAF per segment. Hiring a private taxi for a single trip costs around 2,000–3,000 XAF, more at night. Apps like Bolt or Yango are starting to structure this market, especially in large cities.

10000

The maximum cost of a bus or first-class train trip between Douala and Yaoundé is 10,000 XAF.

Personal car: a near-essential luxury for some

Many expats consider a car almost essential in large cities, for reasons of safety, comfort, and flexibility. But it comes at a cost.

Budget for a vehicle in Cameroon

Main costs to anticipate for buying and using a car.

Used vehicle

A “decent” used vehicle often negotiates from 10,000 €.

New vehicle

For a new vehicle, budget at least 15,000 €.

Importation

Customs duties and insurance can represent up to 40% of the price of an imported vehicle.

Fuel

Gasoline costs about 744 XAF per liter. Intensive city use can drive up the bill.

The alternative is to hire a private driver by the day, a very common service: rates start around 40,000 XAF per day (excluding fuel) and can reach over 100,000 XAF depending on the vehicle type and distance.

Health and insurance: a strategic item for expats

The Cameroonian healthcare system relies on an underfunded public sector and a more efficient but costly private sector. For an expatriate, the general recommendation is clear: take out international health insurance and primarily use private clinics, with the possibility of medical evacuation to a country with advanced infrastructure.

31800

The cost of a simple doctor’s visit in Douala, in CFA francs, is equivalent to more than the average local net monthly salary.

Most public hospitals do not directly accept foreign insurance: you often need to pay upfront and then get reimbursed. Even in private facilities, a deposit is frequently required before treatment, which justifies always having an immediate cash reserve.

The main international insurers (Allianz, Cigna, AXA, etc.) offer contracts covering hospitalization, consultations, tests, and evacuation abroad. Premiums vary by age, medical history, and extent of coverage, but can easily reach several hundred dollars per year for an adult.

Education: international schooling, a major cost for families

For expatriate families, the school question is central. Cameroonian public education is free at the primary level, but of uneven quality and rarely chosen by expats. Local private schools offer better supervision at a moderate cost. It is mainly the international schools — American, British, or French — that attract families of ambassadors, multinational executives, or international missions, at the price of very high tuition fees for the local context.

2476

Estimated annual cost for a typical international primary education in Douala.

For younger children, private daycare and preschool cost an average of around 300,000 XAF per month in large cities. In Douala, a month of daycare or preschool can cost around $535, which far exceeds the financial capacity of the average citizen.

In practice, international schooling often becomes the second largest expense for an expatriate family after housing — sometimes the first, when several children are enrolled.

Visas, residence permits, and administrative procedures

Beyond everyday expenses, an expatriate must factor in the costs of entry and stay in the country.

Visas are fee-based for most nationalities, except for a few African countries exempted for short stays. Transit visas of a few days may be free, but beyond that they become chargeable, with fee schedules ranging from $181 to over $360 depending on duration, type (short/long stay), and express option.

Good to know:

Visa applications are mainly made through an e-visa platform, with online payment. Processing a complete file takes between 2 and 7 business days. For a long-stay visa (up to one year, sometimes multiple entry), the cost is typically around 150,000 to 200,000 XAF.

For a stay longer than three months, you must generally apply for a residence permit, issued by the General Delegation for National Security. The minimum announced cost for this residence permit is around 250,000 XAF, not including any associated fees (translations, photos, medical certificates, criminal record extracts, etc.).

Penalties for visa overstay are high: 20,000 XAF per day of overstay. Beyond the financial aspect, an expatriate who does not comply with immigration rules also risks administrative blocks and potential deportation.

Expat salaries and local purchasing power

What often makes the specificity of expat life in Cameroon is the gap between international compensation and the local standard of living.

The average net salary after tax hovers around $124 per month, and in large cities like Douala or Yaoundé, it covers only a small fraction of the estimated expenses for an expatriate. Douala, for example, has a cost of living 10 times higher than the median local salary.

Skilled professions in the Cameroonian upper-middle class earn higher salaries: an engineer, accountant, or banking executive often earns between €700 and €1,000 per month, while a civil servant earns around €200.

4000

The monthly net threshold often considered a good starting point for an expatriate family, excluding additional benefits.

This configuration explains why, for an employee paid in foreign currency, daily life (groceries, services, small outings) can seem very affordable, while Cameroonians paid in XAF must budget every expense.

Building a realistic budget: a few typical scenarios

To conclude, it is useful to project a few simplified scenarios, based on the orders of magnitude available.

Single expat in Douala, comfortable lifestyle

Combining cost data and urban “expat” rents, a budget structure close to the following (excluding schooling) is often found:

You easily reach a monthly budget between 800,000 and 1,200,000 XAF for a single person seeking high comfort and an active social life. Going below 500,000 XAF means giving up the expat neighborhood, certain amenities (AC, generator), and drastically reducing leisure activities.

Family of four in Yaoundé, comfortable lifestyle but without international school

For Yaoundé, often cheaper than Douala, a family budget of this type can serve as a reference:

This easily falls within a range of 960,000 to 1,380,000 XAF monthly, without including international school. Once you add “high-end” tuition fees, you can easily double this amount.

In summary: a modifiable cost of living, but some unavoidable items

Cameroon offers expatriates an objectively lower cost of living than in many Western countries, especially for food, basic services, urban transportation, and certain leisure activities. But this global picture masks several inescapable realities:

– housing in expatriate neighborhoods of Douala and Yaoundé can reach or exceed European levels.

– electricity, especially with heavy air conditioning use, can become a significant expense.

– international education and quality private healthcare are very costly items.

– rent advances (6 to 12 months) and visa/residence fees create a high financial “entry ticket.”

Good to know:

Comfort and cost of living depend heavily on the employment contract. A complete package (housing, health, vehicle, schooling) makes life comfortable and affordable. Without this package and with a modest salary, strict budget management is necessary, especially in Douala.

Anticipating the cost of living in Cameroon is therefore first and foremost understanding this gap between a statistically “cheap” country and urban micro-markets where a single rent can represent the equivalent of a year of local average salary. It is in this zone of tension that, for many expats, the balance between quality of life, purchasing power, and financial realism is played out.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

Find me on social media: