Buea: Daily Commuting Drains Household Budgets

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Buea: Daily Commuting Drains Household Budgets

Getting around Buea is becoming an expensive day-to-day exercise for many residents.

21 Oct 2026 11:18

F rom workers going to their offices to students rushing to lectures and parents taking their children to school, the cost of transportation is taking an increasing share of household income. Unlike cities with varied transportation means, Buea depends largely on shared taxis and motorbikes. Although this option helps residents move from one neighbourhood to another, the cost is high for people who make several journeys daily. Shared taxis are among the most common means of transportation in Buea. They serve passengers travelling between Muea, Bomaka, Mile 17, Molyko, Great Soppo, Buea Town, Bokwango and other parts of the city. Their popularity comes from their availability and the possibility of sharing fares with other passengers. However, the amount paid de pends on the distance covered and destination. A passenger pays between FCFA 250 and FCFA 500 for some short trips, while lon ger journeys to less accessible neighbourhoods may cost as from FCFA 1.500 and above. Afanwi Pepertua, a worker at the South West regional de legation of Decentralisation and Local Development; re vealed that, she spends FCFA 1000 daily for transportation. ‘‘Over 22 working days, these amounts to FCFA 22,000 I need to keep aside for transporta tion. Because of this, I hardly meet up with other financial obligations especially feeding. The worse scenario is, if fuel prices increase, I spend more because taxi fares automatically increase’’, she said. Motorbikes are another impor tant part of Buea’s transport system. They are particularly useful for residents travelling to neighbourhoods where shared taxis are difficult to find. Such areas include; Bomaka, Mile 16, Mile 18, Small Soppo, Sandpit and others places. Depending on the distance and accessibi lity, a trip may cost FCFA 500 to FCFA 1000. A person who spends FCFA 500 on each of two daily journeys will spend FCFA 1000 a day and FCFA 30.000 in a month. Privately hired vehicles offer another transport option for residents who can afford to pay for direct journeys. Business people, visitors and families may choose these services when travelling with children, carrying luggage or attending important appointments. Unlike shared taxis, private hire services allow passengers to travel without sharing the vehicle with stran gers. However, this convenience generally comes at a hig...