Moving to United States from Cameroon

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Cameroon to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cameroon to United States, you would find that United States is 2.8 times more expensive than Cameroon overall. A FCFA43,015,455 salary in Cameroon would need to be roughly $151,186 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 84°F in Yaounde, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Cameroon and United States.

What does your salary buy?

FCFA43,015,455 $151,186

To maintain the same standard of living in United States

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.5 times more

Groceries

pay 2.0 times more

Transportation

pay 2.4 times more

Housing

pay 3.1 times more

Childcare

pay 5.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.9 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 XAF = 0.0017 USD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Cameroon to United States.

Moved in 2023
5,700 ↓ 1% vs 2022

people moved from Cameroon to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Cameroon.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CM
4.5
US
6.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CM
10.6
US
14.2

Cameroon performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CM
$246
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CM
1.3
US
36.1

Cameroon generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CM
101.0
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CM
0.4t
US
13.6t

Cameroon generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CM
2.2
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CM
1.6%
US
28.2%

United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Cameroon leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CM
3.6%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CM
$4,800
US
$73,600

United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Cameroon leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CM
63.3 yrs
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CM
48.7
US
5.2

United States performs significantly better than Cameroon across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Yaounde Rain: 62.2 in/yr (1580 mm)
84° / 67°F

Avg. annual high / low

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Yaounde Washington
Jan–Mar 88°/67°F (31°/19°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/68°F (29°/20°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 83°/66°F (28°/19°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Yaounde Washington
Jan 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.2°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 87°/68°F (30.6°/20.0°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 92°/68°F (33.4°/19.9°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 85°/68°F (29.5°/20.1°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 84°/68°F (28.7°/20.1°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 82°/67°F (27.5°/19.3°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 79°/66°F (26.3°/19.0°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 81°/67°F (27.2°/19.6°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.9°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 83°/67°F (28.2°/19.2°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.1°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cameroon and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.

Cameroon passport

Cameroon passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Cameroon passport holders need a visa to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Cameroon

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Cameroon.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United States than Cameroon?

On average United States is around 102% pricier than Cameroon, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United States?

Budget about $37,796 for 3 months in United States (based on a FCFA43,015,455 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United States?

Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United States safe for expats?

Cameroon performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.5 in Cameroon.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Cameroon?

Cameroon generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 1.3 in Cameroon. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cameroon: 44).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Cameroon?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 84°F in Yaounde. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Yaounde gets 62.2 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Cameroon, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CM US
Population 29,321,637 337,341,954
Currency CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, French English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +237 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911