Moving to Cameroon from New Zealand

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand to Cameroon, you would find that Cameroon is 28.8% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly FCFA28,621,545 in Cameroon to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Yaounde averages 84°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Cameroon.

What does your salary buy?

NZ$125,240 FCFA28,621,545

To maintain the same standard of living in Cameroon

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 48.0% less

Groceries

pay 3.1% less

Transportation

pay 38.6% less

Housing

pay 3.1% less

Childcare

pay 50.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 50.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NZD = 336.8 XAF (June 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.

Get free moving quotes to Cameroon

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Cameroon.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
1.1
CM
4.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
CM
10.6

New Zealand 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

NZ
$5,576
CM
$246
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
35.7
CM
1.3

New Zealand 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

NZ
12.0
CM
101.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
CM
0.4t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NZ
35.9
CM
2.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
CM
1.6%

New Zealand 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

NZ
3.7%
CM
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$48,800
CM
$4,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.5 yrs
CM
63.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
3.4
CM
48.7

New Zealand performs better than Cameroon across all family life metrics.

Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Wellington Yaounde
Jan–Mar 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) 88°/67°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) 84°/68°F (29°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) 81°/66°F (27°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) 83°/66°F (28°/19°C)
View all months
Month Wellington Yaounde
Jan 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.2°C)
Feb 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) 87°/68°F (30.6°/20.0°C)
Mar 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) 92°/68°F (33.4°/19.9°C)
Apr 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) 85°/68°F (29.5°/20.1°C)
May 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) 84°/68°F (28.7°/20.1°C)
Jun 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) 82°/67°F (27.5°/19.3°C)
Jul 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C)
Aug 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) 79°/66°F (26.3°/19.0°C)
Sep 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) 81°/67°F (27.2°/19.6°C)
Oct 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.9°C)
Nov 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) 83°/67°F (28.2°/19.2°C)
Dec 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.1°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Cameroon

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

Cameroon passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Cameroon passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.

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 New Zealand?

Yes — Cameroon is on average about 32% cheaper than New Zealand. 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 FCFA7,155,386 in Cameroon on a NZ$125,240 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Cameroon?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cameroon has 2.2 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?

New Zealand performs better than Cameroon across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cameroon is 4.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.

How is healthcare in Cameroon compared to New Zealand?

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cameroon leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cameroon, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Cameroon scores 44 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

What's the weather like in Cameroon compared to New Zealand?

The average high temperature in Yaounde is 84°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Yaounde receives around 62.2 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.

What language do they speak in Cameroon?

The official languages in Cameroon are English and French. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

Share this

At a Glance

NZ CM
Population 5,053,004 29,321,637
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +237
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 112