Cost of Living Comparison Between Accra and Elmina Cost of Living Comparison Between Accra and Elmina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Accra vs $532 in Elmina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,317 per month in Accra vs $903 in Elmina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Accra vs $1,274 in Elmina, rent included.

Accra costs about 44% more than Elmina, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Accra and Elmina are more affordable than the global median – Accra 43% lower, Elmina 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 GHS 50.4

$4.31 GHS 50.7

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.88 GHS 550

$47.20 GHS 554

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 GHS 91.9

$7.91 GHS 92.9

-1.14%

Cappuccino

$3.45 GHS 40.53

$3.49 GHS 40.97

-1.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 GHS 11.07

$0.93 GHS 10.87

1.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 GHS 4.03

$0.34 GHS 4.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 GHS 18.53

$1.56 GHS 18.37

1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 GHS 29.59

$2.56 GHS 30.01

-1.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.37 GHS 39.62

$3.45 GHS 40.52

-2.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 GHS 16.81

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 GHS 28.52

$2.35 GHS 27.59

3.40%

Eggs

$2.29 GHS 26.90

$2.30 GHS 26.98

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 GHS 133

$11.32 GHS 133

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 GHS 54.2

$4.79 GHS 56.2

-3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.03 GHS 70.8

$6.00 GHS 70.5

0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 GHS 34.10

$2.89 GHS 33.93

0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 GHS 16.89

$1.43 GHS 16.81

0.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 GHS 19.29

$1.69 GHS 19.83

-2.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.08 GHS 36.13

$3.19 GHS 37.48

-3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 GHS 36.71

$3.10 GHS 36.34

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 GHS 28.44

$2.43 GHS 28.55

-0.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 GHS 9.58

$0.77 GHS 9.00

6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 GHS 6.06

$0.51 GHS 6.03

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 GHS 18.50

$1.59 GHS 18.62

-0.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.07 GHS 83.0

$7.05 GHS 82.8

0.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 GHS 13.15

$1.12 GHS 13.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 GHS 22.66

$1.93 GHS 22.68

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 GHS 12.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.78 GHS 408

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 GHS 18.30

$1.55 GHS 18.18

0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 GHS 13.83

$1.21 GHS 14.18

-2.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.40 GHS 63.4

$5.40 GHS 63.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 GHS 12.55

$1.07 GHS 12.59

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,145 GHS 95.6K

$7,843 GHS 92.1K

3.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$9,815 GHS 115.2K

$9,458 GHS 111.0K

3.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$56.4 GHS 662

$54.7 GHS 642

3.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.00 GHS 153

$13.44 GHS 158

-3.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.61 GHS 441

$37.50 GHS 440

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.58 GHS 418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.03 GHS 188

Cinema Ticket

$9.60 GHS 113

$9.70 GHS 114

-1.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$72.0 GHS 845

$73.4 GHS 861

-1.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,954 GHS 93.4K

$8,040 GHS 94.4K

-1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.88 GHS 175

$14.53 GHS 171

2.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.54 GHS 218

$18.52 GHS 217

0.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$28.78 GHS 338

$29.62 GHS 348

-2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.81 GHS 479

$40.75 GHS 478

0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 GHS 6,212

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 GHS 1,764

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 GHS 12.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 GHS 4,287

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 GHS 33.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,501 GHS 17.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 GHS 2,025

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Accra: May 31, 2026

Last update for Elmina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Accra versus $47.00 in Elmina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $236 – making Accra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Accra vs Elmina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $766 in Accra, $532 in Elmina – roughly 44% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,150 per month in Accra and $798 in Elmina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $766 in Accra and $532 in Elmina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $72.0 per month in Accra and $73.4 in Elmina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elmina, where all-in costs run around $532, than in Accra at $766. In Elmina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Elmina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Elmina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Accra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.