Moving to Yaounde

In our series of short blogs on moving between different international locations, we highlight cost of living and other major differences likely to be experienced.
Today we look at moving to Yaounde in Cameroon from Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Sarajevo people speak Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Yaounde people speak French, English, languages of Bantu, Semi-Bantu and Sudanic groups.

Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Yaounde is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala.
The economy of Sarajevo has been subject to reconstruction and rehabilitation programs after years of war. Amongst other economic landmarks, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina opened in Sarajevo in 1997 and the Sarajevo Stock Exchange began trading in 2002. The city's large manufacturing, administration, and tourism base, combined with a large informal market, makes it one of the strongest economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Major industries in Yaounde include tobacco, dairy products, breweries, clay, glass goods, and lumber. It is also a regional distribution center for coffee, cocoa, copra, sugar cane, and rubber.

The overall cost of living rank in Sarajevo is 266 out of 300 global locations, which equates it with low cost of living locations. An expatriate moving from Sarajevo to Yaounde which has an overall cost of living rank of 89, which equates it with high cost of living locations, will experience a change in cost of living of 42.1%.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Yaounde is ranked as a high degree of hardship location with a hardship index of 30% compared to Sarajevo with a hardship index of 40% which is an extreme hardship location.

Source: http://www.xpatulator.com as at July 2011.

Cameroon, Yaounde - Cost of Living

The economy of Cameroon is one of the ten highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Red tape, high taxes, and endemic corruption have impeded growth of the private sector. Unemployment was estimated at 30% in 2001, and about a third of the population was living below the international poverty threshold.


Yaounde is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala. Major industries in Yaounde include tobacco, dairy products, breweries, clay, glass goods, and lumber. It is also a regional distribution center for coffee, cocoa, copra, sugar cane, and rubber.
Yaounde has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups.


The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.
Read More

Cameroon, Yaounde Cost of Living January 2010

LOCATION: Cameroon is in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria.

CAPITAL CITY: Yaounde

LARGEST CITY: Douala

CURRENCY: CFA Franc (XAF)

ECONOMY: Cameroon possesses substantial mineral resources, the economy is mainly impacted by international oil and cocoa prices. Major industries in Yaoundé include cigarettes, dairy products, breweries, clay, glass goods, and lumber. Yaoundé is a regional distribution centre for coffee, cacao, copra, sugar cane, and rubber.
Yaounde has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Yaounde is currently ranked 43 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:

Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 195 out of 276.

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 130 out of 276.

Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 12 out of 276.

Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 59 out of 276.

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 7 out of 276.

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 52 out of 276.

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 102 out of 276.

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 180 out of 276.

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 169 out of 276.

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 109 out of 276.

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 23 out of 276.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 135 out of 276.

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 12 out of 276.

Your exact customized cost of living index for Yaounde is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Yaounde is ranked as a high degree of hardship location with a hardship index of 30%.

Your exact customized hardship index premium for Yaounde is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.