Cost of Living Comparison Between Accra and Tamale Cost of Living Comparison Between Accra and Tamale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,094 per month in Accra vs $146 in Tamale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,741 per month in Accra vs $220 in Tamale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,388 per month in Accra vs $294 in Tamale, rent included.

Accra costs about 651% more than Tamale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Accra and Tamale are more affordable than the global median – Accra 20% lower, Tamale 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 GHS 90.9

$3.62 GHS 40.85

122.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 GHS 612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 GHS 122

$10.87 GHS 123

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$4.47 GHS 50.5

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

$1.63 GHS 18.45

$0.86 GHS 9.71

89.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 GHS 5.50

$0.42 GHS 4.73

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 GHS 20.83

$0.91 GHS 10.23

102.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 GHS 26.81

$1.35 GHS 15.23

75.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.71 GHS 41.97

$3.09 GHS 34.97

20.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 GHS 19.45

$1.70 GHS 19.24

1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 GHS 35.35

$3.84 GHS 43.36

-18.49%

Eggs

$2.69 GHS 30.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 GHS 139

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 GHS 84.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.93 GHS 112

Apples (1kg)

$3.79 GHS 42.83

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 GHS 16.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 GHS 20.58

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 GHS 41.60

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 GHS 31.66

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 GHS 30.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 GHS 8.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 GHS 6.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 GHS 30.50

Wine (Bottle)

$7.38 GHS 83.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 GHS 14.19

$1.31 GHS 14.85

-3.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 GHS 27.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 GHS 17.95

$0.90 GHS 10.19

76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.38 GHS 468

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 GHS 20.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 GHS 14.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 GHS 50.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 GHS 15.67

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

$7,977 GHS 90.1K

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

$10.3K GHS 115.9K

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

$74.7 GHS 844

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

$19.81 GHS 224

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.54 GHS 503

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 GHS 814

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.03 GHS 215

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 GHS 152

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

$463 GHS 5,233

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K GHS 213.6K

$9,010 GHS 101.8K

109.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.82 GHS 167

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.92 GHS 214

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.59 GHS 413

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 GHS 620

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 GHS 7,740

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 GHS 3,231

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,121 GHS 12.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 GHS 5,355

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,867 GHS 32.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,429 GHS 16.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 GHS 2,048

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.75

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

Last update for Accra: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tamale: August 29, 2026

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 Tamale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,094 in Accra, $146 in Tamale – roughly 651% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Accra and $218 in Tamale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,094 in Accra and $146 in Tamale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 308% more in Accra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamale, where all-in costs run around $146, than in Accra at $1,094. In Tamale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tamale – 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 Tamale. 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.