Moving to Cameroon from France

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Cameroon — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Cameroon, you would find that Cameroon is 48.9% cheaper than France overall. A €67,000 salary in France would need to be roughly FCFA22,500,000 in Cameroon to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Yaounde averages 84°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from France to Cameroon.

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → FCFA22,500,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Cameroon

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 70.8% less

Groceries

pay 25.3% less

Transportation

pay 47.4% less

Housing

pay 52.8% less

Childcare

pay 62.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 55.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 655.96 XAF (October 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?

How many people actually move from France to Cameroon, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
5,376 ↑ 16% vs 2015

people born in France live in Cameroon · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cameroon?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Cameroon.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.3
CM
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
CM
10.6

France performs better than Cameroon across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
CM
$246
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
32.8
CM
1.4

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cameroon leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
CM
101.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
CM
0.3t

France generally does better on environment, though Cameroon leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
48.9
CM
2.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.4%
CM
1.6%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.5%
CM
3.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$48,986
CM
$1,972

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Cameroon leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

FR
83.0 yrs
CM
64.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.4
CM
40.2

France performs better than Cameroon across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016), Ministry of Finance (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Yaounde
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 88°/67°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 84°/68°F (29°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 81°/66°F (27°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 83°/66°F (28°/19°C)
View all months
Month Paris Yaounde
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.2°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 87°/68°F (30.6°/20.0°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 92°/68°F (33.4°/19.9°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 85°/68°F (29.5°/20.1°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 84°/68°F (28.7°/20.1°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 82°/67°F (27.5°/19.3°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 79°/66°F (26.3°/19.0°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 81°/67°F (27.2°/19.6°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.9°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 83°/67°F (28.2°/19.2°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.1°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

France passport

France passport holder visiting Cameroon

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

Cameroon passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Cameroon passport holders need a visa to enter France.

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 Cameroon than France?

Yes — Cameroon is on average about 49% cheaper than France. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Cameroon?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly FCFA5,625,000 in Cameroon on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Cameroon?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cameroon has 2.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Cameroon safe for expats?

France performs better than Cameroon across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cameroon is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in France.

How is healthcare in Cameroon compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cameroon leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cameroon, compared to 32.8 in France. Cameroon scores 44 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Cameroon compared to France?

The average high temperature in Yaounde is 84°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Yaounde receives around 62.2 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Cameroon?

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

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At a Glance

FR CM
Population 68,720,337 29,879,337
Currency Euro (€) CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA)
Languages French English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +237
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112