🇨🇲 Cameroon
Yaoundé: what to see and whether to move there
Yaoundé spreads across seven hills in Cameroon's green heartland - a city of monuments, basilicas and markets where the political capital meets lush tropical scenery.
Reunification Monument
A landmark symbolizing the unity of Anglophone and Francophone Cameroon, and a favorite viewpoint over the city.
Basilica of Mvolyé
An imposing hilltop church that has become a pilgrimage site and one of Yaoundé's defining silhouettes.
National Museum of Cameroon
Housed in a former presidential palace, showcasing traditional art and the country's history.
Blackitude Museum
A collection of masks, sculptures and artifacts celebrating Black African cultural heritage.
Mont Fébé Benedictine Monastery
A hillside monastery with a museum of Cameroonian traditional art and sweeping city views.
Mvog-Betsi Zoo
A modest zoo shaded by tall trees, home to lions, chimpanzees, and other native wildlife.
Mefou National Park
A wildlife sanctuary near the capital where visitors can see chimpanzees and gorillas up close.
Mokolo Market
A vast, bustling market that captures Cameroon's street-life energy, selling everything imaginable.
Central Market
A downtown market piled with spices, fabrics, and handicrafts from across the country.
La Forêt Dense restaurant
An upscale restaurant serving traditional dishes like ndolé in a lush garden setting.
What the city lives on and who it suits
Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon, with about 4 million residents on seven hills in the forest zone in the centre of the country. It is the political and administrative centre: the presidential palace, ministries, embassies, the largest universities and offices of international organisations are here. The country's business and port capital is Douala, 240 kilometres to the west, while Yaoundé lives on government, education, construction and trade.
Yaoundé suits embassy staff, employees of international organisations and NGOs, specialists on projects in Central Africa, teachers and people working with French-speaking Africa. It is not a city to move to for taxes or comfort: taxes are high, bureaucracy is complex and familiar infrastructure is limited.
Districts where expats live
- Bastos - the embassy and villa district, the highest prices and the best security.
- Golf - quiet streets with mansions near the golf course.
- Santa Barbara - a residential area for families near Golf.
- Nlongkak - closer to the centre, shops and restaurants, cheaper than Bastos.
- Centre and Hippodrome - ministries and offices, convenient for work, noisy.
Cost of living
| Item, per month | CFA francs | US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished flat or house in Bastos | from 700,000 | from 1,200 |
| Flat for expats in other districts | 200,000-900,000 | 350-1,540 |
| Single person's spending including rent | 700,000-1,300,000 | 1,200-2,230 |
The currency is the Central African CFA franc, pegged to the euro, about 585 francs per dollar on 6 October 2026. Familiar imported food costs more than in Europe, and a generator and security are often part of housing costs.
Practicalities: climate, transport, connectivity
Climate. Equatorial at about 750 metres: 23-30°C during the day all year, two rainy seasons from March to June and from September to November, dry from December to February. Transport. Yellow taxis are shared by several passengers along the route, motorbike taxis are cheaper but riskier, and rush hour brings traffic jams. Many expats hire a car with a driver. Nsimalen airport is 25 kilometres south of the centre. Connectivity. Mobile internet works, but power and connection sometimes drop. Languages. French and English are official, and Yaoundé speaks mostly French.
Health and safety
A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry, malaria occurs all year, so prophylaxis and repellent are needed. Private clinics handle routine needs, while serious cases are sent abroad, so insurance with evacuation is essential. Pickpocketing and street robbery happen, especially in the evening, and at night it is better to travel by car. Armed conflicts are in the English-speaking north-west and south-west regions and the far north, not in Yaoundé. After the presidential election in autumn 2025 protests took place in several cities.
Taxes
Tax residents pay progressive income tax from 10% to 35% plus a surcharge for local budgets. VAT with the surcharge is 19.25% and corporate tax is about 33%. For a foreigner working in Cameroon on a contract, the employer usually withholds the tax.
Moving and legal status
- Russian citizens need a visa: the application is filed online and the visa is stamped in the passport on arrival at Douala or Yaoundé airports;
- at the border you show the printed pre-registration, your passport and a yellow fever certificate;
- work requires a contract approved by the labour ministry and a work visa, followed by a residence permit;
- for business you register a company through the enterprise creation centre, with documents in French.
We help gather documents and plan the move, and if you need Cameroon only as a market, we advise which country in the region is more convenient to run the business from.
Alternatives in the region
Anyone working with Central and West Africa should compare Yaoundé with Kigali, which is calmer, cleaner and easier for business, with Libreville, also French-speaking and on the same currency, and with Dakar, which has more expats, the ocean and direct flights to Europe.
Is the city worth considering
Pros: a mild climate for the equator thanks to the hills, greenery, the role of a capital with embassies and international organisations, and two official languages. Cons: high taxes, complex bureaucracy, power cuts, malaria, expensive imports and conflicts in other regions of the country. Yaoundé is worth choosing for a specific job or project, not as a place to live on passive income.
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Relocation options
Working in Cameroon and thinking of a second passport?
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