How much does a studio cost to rent in Douala and Yaoundé in 2026?

The answer in figures

Across the studio listings currently live on Geloka, the median rent stands at 90,000 FCFA per month in Douala and 67,500 FCFA per month in Yaoundé.

The spread is wide. In Douala, studios range from 50,000 to 350,000 FCFA depending on the neighbourhood and standard. In Yaoundé the range is tighter, from 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA.

A note on method: these figures cover 8 studios in Douala and 12 in Yaoundé, monthly rentals only. It is a small sample that reflects our catalogue rather than the whole market. We publish the median rather than the average, because a handful of high end properties is enough to distort an average.

What do you get at 30,000, 40,000 and 50,000 FCFA?

These are the most searched budgets. Here is what the real listings say.

Monthly budget	What you can expect
30,000 FCFA	No studio at this price in our current catalogue. At this budget, look at a room rather than a studio, or at neighbourhoods further from the centre.
40,000 FCFA	Still below the observed minimum. A room remains the realistic option.
50,000 FCFA	This is the entry threshold observed, in Douala as in Yaoundé. Simple studio, often unfurnished, on the outskirts.
65,000 to 90,000 FCFA	The heart of the market. At this level the choice widens noticeably, especially in Yaoundé.
100,000 FCFA and above	Modern studios, often furnished, in the sought after areas of Douala.

In other words, if your budget is 30,000 or 40,000 FCFA, searching for a studio is unlikely to succeed in these two cities. Better to know it before losing weeks.

Why such wide gaps

The neighbourhood. This is the first factor. In Douala, a studio in Bonapriso is not priced like one on the outskirts. The gap can be fourfold for a comparable surface.

Furnished or not. A furnished studio rents for considerably more than an empty one. For short stays, renting is often done by the day rather than by the month, with a different pricing logic.

Standard and condition. A recent studio, tiled, with reliable water and electricity, sits at the top of the range.

Access. A plot reachable by car all year round rents for more than one reachable only on foot or by motorbike during the rainy season.

The real move in budget

This is what rent figures hide, and what blocks the most tenants.

In Cameroon, moving into a home means paying a deposit and an advance. The deposit is a guarantee returned at the end of the lease if there is no damage. The advance is several months of rent paid upfront. The two add up, and practice goes well beyond what the law provides for.

On a 90,000 FCFA studio in Douala, a request for two months deposit and six months advance means 720,000 FCFA to gather before even moving in. That is eight times the monthly rent.

In practice, before comparing rents, ask the landlord three questions: how many months of deposit, how many months of advance, and within what timeframe the deposit is returned at the end of the lease. The answer often changes your budget more than the rent itself.

How to pay less

• Widen your search area. One or two neighbourhoods further from the centre is often enough to cut the rent by 30 to 40%.
• Choose unfurnished for long stays. The premium for furnished makes sense over a few months, rarely beyond a year.
• Negotiate the advance rather than the rent. Landlords more readily reduce the number of months upfront than the monthly amount, which sets the reference for future tenancies.
• Deal directly with the landlord. This avoids intermediary fees, often equal to one month of rent.
• Search outside the back to school peak. Demand surges in September and October, and prices follow.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average price of a studio in Douala?

The median rent observed across our listings is 90,000 FCFA per month, ranging from 50,000 to 350,000 FCFA depending on the neighbourhood and standard.

What is the price of a studio in Yaoundé?

The median rent observed is 67,500 FCFA per month, within a tighter range of 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA.

Can you find a studio at 30,000 FCFA?

No studio at that price currently appears in our catalogue in Douala or Yaoundé. At that budget, a room is the realistic format, or neighbourhoods much further from the centre.

Is Yaoundé cheaper than Douala?

For studios, yes. The median rent is about 25% lower, and the high end prices are far less extreme.

How much should you budget in total to move in?

Count the rent, the deposit and the advance. On a 90,000 FCFA studio with two months deposit and six months advance, the amount to gather reaches 720,000 FCFA.

Key takeaway

The median studio rent is 90,000 FCFA in Douala and 67,500 FCFA in Yaoundé, with an entry threshold around 50,000 FCFA in both cities. Below that, consider a room.

But the figure that matters is not the rent: it is the sum to gather before moving in. Negotiate the advance, not only the monthly amount.