Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Cameroon Property Pack
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As of June 2026, rents in Cameroon are rising slowly, but good apartments in Douala and Yaoundé still rent fast when the price is realistic.
We constantly update this blog post so that the rent figures in Cameroon stay fresh and useful for buyers, landlords and foreign investors.
The most important thing to understand is simple: in Cameroon, tenants pay more for security, road access, water storage and reliable power.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon.
What are typical rents in Cameroon as of 2026?
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Cameroon is about 140,000 XAF, which is roughly 230 USD or 215 EUR.
For most studios in Cameroon in 2026, a realistic monthly range is 70,000-300,000 XAF, or about 115-500 USD and 105-460 EUR.
The cheapest studios in Cameroon are usually in basic or peripheral areas like Logpom, Kotto, Bepanda, Odza and Mvan, while furnished studios in Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Akwa, Bastos and Nlongkak cost much more because tenants pay for location, security and comfort.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Cameroon’s main formal rental markets is about 230,000 XAF, which is roughly 380 USD or 350 EUR.
For most 1-bedroom apartments in Cameroon in 2026, a realistic monthly range is 180,000-280,000 XAF, or about 300-470 USD and 275-430 EUR.
In practice, 1-bedroom rents are usually cheaper in Logpom, Makepe, Kotto, Odza, Mvan and Essos, while Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Akwa, Bastos and Nlongkak sit at the expensive end of the Cameroon rental market.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Cameroon is about 340,000 XAF, which is roughly 565 USD or 520 EUR.
For most 2-bedroom apartments in Cameroon in 2026, a realistic monthly range is 150,000-1,000,000 XAF, or about 250-1,665 USD and 230-1,525 EUR.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents in Cameroon are often found in value areas like Logpom, Makepe, Bonamoussadi, Santa Barbara, Essos and Odza, while the most expensive 2-bedroom rents are usually in Bastos, Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Bali and Akwa.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon.
What's the average rent per square meter in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average rent per square meter for a formal urban apartment in Cameroon is about 4,800 XAF per m² per month, which is roughly 8 USD or 7 EUR.
Across Cameroon in 2026, a realistic rent range is 3,000-12,000 XAF per m² per month, or about 5-20 USD and 5-18 EUR, depending on the city, building quality and services.
Douala usually sits above Yaoundé for similar apartment quality because Douala has stronger commercial demand, while regional cities such as Buea, Limbe, Kribi and Garoua are usually cheaper outside their best-served areas.
In Cameroon, rent per square meter rises most when an apartment is furnished, secure, easy to access by road, close to jobs, and supported by backup power, water storage and parking.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Cameroon in 2026?
As of 2026, average residential rents in Cameroon are estimated to be up by about 3% to 5% year over year, with prime Douala and Yaoundé apartments closer to 5% to 8%.
This rent increase in Cameroon is mainly driven by urban demand, higher expectations for secure buildings, and tenants paying extra for reliable electricity, water storage and good road access.
Compared with 2025, rent growth in Cameroon in 2026 looks more moderate because inflation has slowed and household budgets are still under pressure.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Cameroon in 2026?
As of 2026, the expected rent growth for Cameroon is about 3% to 6% for the rest of the year, with better apartments in prime areas likely to grow faster.
The main support for rent growth in Cameroon is urban demand in Douala and Yaoundé, while the main limit is tenant affordability after several years of pressure on household budgets.
The strongest rent growth in Cameroon should be in Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Akwa, Bastos, Nlongkak, Mfandena, Bonamoussadi and Makepe because these areas attract tenants who can pay for better services.
The main risks are slower economic growth, weaker household income, power or water problems, security concerns in some regions, and landlords overpricing furnished apartments.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Cameroon as of 2026?
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the highest-rent neighborhoods in Cameroon are Bonapriso in Douala, Bonanjo in Douala and Bastos in Yaoundé, where good 2-bedroom apartments often rent around 500,000-1,000,000 XAF per month, or about 830-1,665 USD and 760-1,525 EUR.
These neighborhoods command premium rents in Cameroon because they offer better security, stronger road access, restaurants, offices, embassies, international schools and a larger supply of furnished apartments.
The typical tenants in these high-rent Cameroon neighborhoods are executives, business owners, diplomats, NGO staff, consultants and expat families.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we compared premium listings from Koutchoumi Douala, Koutchoumi Yaoundé and Numbeo Douala. We focused on neighborhoods that appeared repeatedly across listing sources. We also used our own investor research on Cameroon’s premium rental districts.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Cameroon right now?
The top neighborhoods for young professionals renting in Cameroon are Akwa, Bonamoussadi and Makepe in Douala, plus Essos, Mvan and Odza in Yaoundé.
Young professionals in these Cameroon neighborhoods usually pay about 120,000-280,000 XAF per month, or about 200-470 USD and 185-430 EUR, for studios and 1-bedroom apartments.
These areas attract young renters because they offer shorter commutes, shops, nightlife, mobile money services, road links, internet access and rents that are still below the expat-heavy neighborhoods.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon.
Where do families prefer to rent in Cameroon right now?
The top family rental neighborhoods in Cameroon are Bonamoussadi, Makepe and Logpom in Douala, plus Bastos, Odza, Santa Barbara and Mfandena in Yaoundé.
Families in these Cameroon neighborhoods usually pay about 250,000-800,000 XAF per month, or about 415-1,330 USD and 380-1,220 EUR, for good 2- and 3-bedroom apartments.
These neighborhoods are attractive for families in Cameroon because they offer larger apartments, calmer streets, parking, schools, security, water storage and easier daily routines.
Family renters often look near schools and education options such as the American School of Yaoundé area, the French school network in Yaoundé and Douala, local private schools in Bonamoussadi and Makepe, and university-linked areas around Ngoa-Ekelle and Melen.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Cameroon in 2026?
As of 2026, the fastest-renting areas near transit or universities in Cameroon are Ngoa-Ekelle, Melen and Mvan in Yaoundé, plus Akwa, Deido and Bonabéri in Douala.
In these high-demand Cameroon areas, well-priced studios and 1-bedroom apartments often stay listed for about 10 to 25 days, while average apartments elsewhere take closer to 25 to 45 days.
The typical rent premium for being close to a university, major road or job corridor in Cameroon is about 20,000-80,000 XAF per month, or about 35-130 USD and 30-120 EUR.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Cameroon right now?
The most popular expat neighborhoods in Cameroon are Bonapriso, Bonanjo and Akwa in Douala, plus Bastos, Golf and Nlongkak in Yaoundé.
Expats in these Cameroon neighborhoods usually pay about 500,000-1,500,000 XAF per month, or about 830-2,500 USD and 760-2,285 EUR, for furnished and secure apartments.
These neighborhoods attract expats because they offer stronger security, restaurants, embassies, offices, international schools, air conditioning, parking, generators and easier daily logistics.
The expat communities most visible in these areas include French, other European, Lebanese, Chinese, Nigerian, diplomatic, NGO and regional business communities.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we checked premium furnished listings on Koutchoumi Douala, Koutchoumi Yaoundé and Rentberry Yaoundé. We focused on neighborhoods with furnished, secure and serviced units. We also used our own expat-rental research for Cameroon.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Cameroon right now?
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Cameroon?
The top tenant profiles in Cameroon are local salaried households, young professionals and students, and expats or NGO and diplomatic renters.
In our estimate, local salaried households represent about 55% to 65% of formal rental demand in Cameroon, young professionals and students about 25% to 30%, and expats or institutional tenants about 5% to 10%.
Local families usually seek 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, young professionals usually seek studios and 1-bedrooms, and expats usually seek furnished, secure and serviced apartments in Douala and Yaoundé.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we combined World Bank urban population data, World Bank Cameroon poverty data and live listings from Koutchoumi. We separated tenant groups by budget, unit size and neighborhood choice. We also used our own Cameroon rental-demand segmentation.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Cameroon?
In Cameroon, about 70% to 80% of local tenants prefer unfurnished rentals, while about 20% to 30% of tenants prefer furnished rentals, mostly in the higher-income and expat market.
A furnished apartment in Cameroon often earns about 50,000-250,000 XAF more per month than a similar unfurnished unit, or about 85-415 USD and 75-380 EUR more, if the location and services are strong.
Furnished rentals in Cameroon are most popular with expats, consultants, NGO staff, diplomats, short-stay executives and returnees who do not want to buy furniture locally.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Cameroon?
The five amenities that increase rent the most in Cameroon are backup power, water storage, security, parking and air conditioning.
In Cameroon, each strong amenity can add about 20,000-100,000 XAF per month, or about 35-165 USD and 30-150 EUR, while a full premium package can lift rent by 20% to 50%.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Cameroon?
The best ROI renovations for rental properties in Cameroon are repainting, bathroom refreshes, kitchen cabinet upgrades, water tanks with pressure pumps, and inverter or generator-ready electrical work.
Typical costs range from about 150,000-2,500,000 XAF, or 250-4,165 USD and 230-3,810 EUR, and each good upgrade can raise rent by about 10,000-150,000 XAF per month depending on the neighborhood.
Luxury imported finishes, oversized kitchens, very expensive furniture and decorative upgrades usually have poor ROI in Cameroon unless the apartment is in Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Bastos, Golf or another premium expat area.
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How strong is rental demand in Cameroon as of 2026?
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for formal urban rentals in Cameroon is about 6% to 9%.
Across Cameroon, vacancy is closer to 3% to 6% for well-priced apartments in prime Douala and Yaoundé neighborhoods, but it can rise above 10% for overpriced furnished units or weaker locations.
Compared with the usual market pattern in Cameroon, vacancy in 2026 looks slightly tighter for practical mid-market units and slightly looser for expensive furnished apartments that are not priced carefully.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, a normal rental apartment in Cameroon stays listed for about 25 to 45 days before finding a tenant.
In Cameroon, clean and well-priced studios or 1-bedrooms in Akwa, Bonamoussadi, Makepe, Essos, Mvan and Odza can rent in 10 to 25 days, while expensive furnished apartments can take 45 to 90 days.
Compared with one year ago, days on market in Cameroon look broadly stable, but tenants are more selective and overpriced apartments need more time to rent.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Cameroon?
The peak months for tenant demand in Cameroon are January, February, August, September, October and early December.
These months are busy because job moves, school calendars, university timing, family relocations and returnee visits all push tenants to search for apartments at the same time.
The quieter months for rentals in Cameroon are usually March, April, May, June and November, especially for apartments that are too expensive for their location.
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What will my monthly costs be in Cameroon as of 2026?
What property taxes should landlords expect in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, a landlord in Cameroon should often expect annual property tax of about 50,000-60,000 XAF for a 50 million XAF apartment, which is roughly 85-100 USD or 75-90 EUR.
Across Cameroon, a realistic annual property tax range for many individual landlords is about 20,000-200,000 XAF, or about 35-335 USD and 30-305 EUR, depending mainly on declared property value and local charges.
Property tax in Cameroon is generally linked to the taxable value of the property, and ordinary residential property is often modeled around 0.1% of taxable value per year, with local additions possible.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cameroon, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Cameroon right now?
In Cameroon, landlords most often pay or manage shared security, compound lighting, waste fees, generator servicing, water-pump maintenance and common-area repairs.
Typical landlord-paid shared costs in Cameroon can run about 10,000-80,000 XAF per month per unit, or about 15-130 USD and 15-120 EUR, depending on building size and service level.
The common practice in Cameroon is that tenants pay electricity, water, internet and cooking gas directly, while landlords handle shared systems and may include more services in furnished premium rentals.
How is rental income taxed in Cameroon as of 2026?
As of 2026, residential rental income in Cameroon is generally treated as property income, called revenus fonciers, when the rent is not part of a business activity.
Landlords in Cameroon may generally deduct or account for eligible property costs such as maintenance, repairs, local taxes and management expenses, but the exact treatment depends on the landlord’s tax status and records.
The common Cameroon-specific tax mistakes are not declaring rent, mixing business rent and private rent, ignoring withholding rules when the tenant is an organization, and relying on old tax summaries instead of the 2026 Finance Law.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used the official DGI property-income page, the General Taxation Code and the 2026 Finance Law. We kept the explanation simple because individual tax treatment can change with the landlord’s situation. We also cross-checked the rules with our own Cameroon landlord-tax notes.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Cameroon versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Cameroon, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source used | Why this source matters | How we used it for this article |
|---|---|---|
| Institut National de la Statistique du Cameroun | This is Cameroon’s official statistics agency, so it is the best local source for inflation and price trends. | We used INS data to understand the direction of prices in Cameroon. We did not use it for bedroom rents because INS does not publish clean rent-by-bedroom data. |
| INS Cameroon homepage | This page confirms the role of INS as the official body producing and sharing statistical data for Cameroon. | We used it to validate INS as the main local statistics authority. We treated it as a credibility source rather than a rental-price source. |
| IMF 2026 Article IV Cameroon | The IMF is a major source for Cameroon’s growth, inflation and fiscal outlook. | We used it to judge whether rent growth in Cameroon looked strong or moderate in 2026. We connected its macro view to tenant affordability and landlord pricing power. |
| IMF 2026 staff report PDF | This is the detailed IMF country report behind the public summary. | We used it to understand the 2025-2026 economic backdrop. We treated the staff report as stronger than short media summaries. |
| World Bank Macro Poverty Outlook Cameroon | The World Bank note gives useful context on growth, poverty and household pressure in Cameroon. | We used it to assess tenant purchasing power. We also used it to avoid overstating rent growth outside prime urban neighborhoods. |
| World Bank urban population data | World Bank open data is a standard source for demographic and urbanization trends. | We used it to support the urban-demand story in Cameroon. We connected urbanization pressure to rental demand in Douala, Yaoundé, Buea and other cities. |
| World Bank electricity access data | This source helps explain why reliable electricity matters so much for tenants in Cameroon. | We used it to explain the rent premium for backup power and water systems. We also used it to show why infrastructure resilience matters in rental pricing. |
| World Bank Enterprise Survey Cameroon 2024 | This survey gives evidence on infrastructure constraints, including power reliability. | We used it as support for the idea that electricity reliability remains a real issue. We translated that into residential demand for generators, inverters and water systems. |
| Cameroon Directorate General of Taxation | This is Cameroon’s official tax administration. | We used it to ground the landlord tax section in official sources. We avoided relying on unofficial tax blogs when official pages were available. |
| DGI property-income page | This official page explains that rental income can fall under revenus fonciers. | We used it to confirm that apartment and house rents can be treated as property income. We used that point in the rental-income tax section. |
| DGI General Taxation Code | This is the official tax-code source for Cameroon. | We used it to cross-check tax categories and property-income treatment. We paired it with the 2026 Finance Law for current-year context. |
| Presidency 2026 Finance Law | The Presidency publishes the enacted finance law, so this is a primary legal source. | We used it for the 2026 tax-law context. We treated it as more authoritative than accounting-firm summaries. |
| Numbeo Douala property prices | Numbeo is not official, but it gives transparent city-level rent inputs and update information. | We used it as one private benchmark for Douala rents. We weighted it carefully because user-contributed data can be noisy. |
| Numbeo Yaoundé property prices | This source gives a useful comparison point for Yaoundé rents. | We used it to avoid over-weighting Douala in the national estimate. We cross-checked it against listings in Bastos, Odza, Essos and Santa Barbara. |
| Koutchoumi Douala listings | This listing site gives neighborhood-level rental examples with prices, bedrooms and amenities. | We used it to identify real neighborhood price texture in Douala. We looked at areas such as Bonapriso, Bonamoussadi, Makepe, Logpom, Deido and Bali. |
| Koutchoumi Yaoundé listings | This listing site gives live Yaoundé rental examples by neighborhood. | We used it to identify active rental areas such as Bastos, Santa Barbara, Odza, Essos, Mballa II, Mfandena and Nlongkak. We used listing ranges to refine 2-bedroom and family-rental estimates. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Cameroon
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