Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Cameroon: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best strategy in Cameroon is to split: exchange a little at the airport for taxis, then use ATMs in the city for the rest. ATMs are more reliable and give stronger rates. Budget CFA 15,000-25,000 daily depending on whether you eat local or dine at restaurants. Always carry cash since cards aren’t widely accepted outside hotels and supermarkets. Airport exchange rates are poor, so keep those for absolute emergencies. Stick with Visa/Mastercard - Amex won’t help much here.
Cameroon’s airport counters really felt like a trap. I exchanged €100 right away and later realized I lost enough to cover an extra day of meals. ATMs gave a much better conversion when I finally used one at Société Générale. I was frustrated because I was on a budget of CFA 20,000 per day, and wasting money at the airport cut into my activities. Don’t do what I did - only change the bare minimum at the airport.
When I landed in Douala, I exchanged €30 at the airport to cover my taxi. The rate was noticeably worse than what I later got from an Ecobank ATM in the city. I was spending about CFA 15,000 a day on meals and transport, and the ATM stretched my budget further. Cameroon is largely cash-based, so you’ll need francs for most things. Bring a Visa card, since Amex rarely works here. Keep the airport exchange for small amounts only.
In Cameroon, ATMs usually provide better rates than airport exchange counters, especially in Douala and Yaoundé. Banks like Société Générale or Ecobank machines give fair CFA franc rates, while the airport kiosks charge steep margins. If you’re budgeting CFA 10,000-20,000 daily for food, taxis, and small purchases, use ATMs for most of your cash. Airport counters are fine for emergencies, but not cost-effective. Withdraw enough to avoid multiple fees, and always keep small notes for taxis and markets.