Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coast and Tema Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coast and Tema

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $808 per month in Cape Coast vs $624 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Cape Coast vs $995 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,823 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,365 in Tema, rent included.

Cape Coast costs about 29% more than Tema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cape Coast and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Cape Coast 40% lower, Tema 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 GHS 50.1

$7.19 GHS 83.0

-39.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.00 GHS 543

$27.76 GHS 321

69.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 GHS 91.3

$7.82 GHS 90.3

1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.45 GHS 39.84

$1.46 GHS 16.84

136.30%

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

$0.99 GHS 11.42

$1.04 GHS 12.05

-4.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 GHS 4.28

$0.31 GHS 3.57

19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 GHS 17.44

$1.74 GHS 20.04

-13.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 GHS 29.34

$2.67 GHS 30.81

-4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.37 GHS 38.87

$3.05 GHS 35.25

10.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 GHS 16.74

$1.62 GHS 18.66

-10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 GHS 27.09

$1.56 GHS 18.06

50.64%

Eggs

$2.26 GHS 26.12

$2.19 GHS 25.24

3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 GHS 131

$3.66 GHS 42.30

209.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 GHS 52.6

$2.64 GHS 30.46

72.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 GHS 69.1

$2.41 GHS 27.83

148.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 GHS 34.06

$2.83 GHS 32.68

4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 GHS 16.19

$2.02 GHS 23.38

-30.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 GHS 19.47

$2.09 GHS 24.13

-19.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 GHS 36.17

$2.86 GHS 32.98

9.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 GHS 34.68

$1.82 GHS 20.99

64.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 GHS 27.13

$1.99 GHS 22.93

18.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 GHS 9.16

$0.64 GHS 7.39

23.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 GHS 5.99

$0.88 GHS 10.13

-40.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 GHS 19.00

Wine (Bottle)

$7.37 GHS 85.2

$7.04 GHS 81.3

4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 GHS 13.29

$0.88 GHS 10.11

30.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 GHS 22.41

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 GHS 24.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.03 GHS 462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 GHS 18.72

$1.36 GHS 15.76

19.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 GHS 13.35

$0.76 GHS 8.76

52.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 GHS 64.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 GHS 12.47

$1.20 GHS 13.81

-10.00%

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

$7,869 GHS 90.9K

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

$9,553 GHS 110.3K

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

$54.6 GHS 630

$31.32 GHS 362

74.20%

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

$13.10 GHS 151

$12.42 GHS 143

5.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.30 GHS 431

$64.6 GHS 746

-42.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.29 GHS 223

Cinema Ticket

$9.61 GHS 111

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

$73.4 GHS 847

$83.0 GHS 958

-11.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,042 GHS 92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.85 GHS 172

$24.46 GHS 282

-39.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.52 GHS 214

$24.21 GHS 280

-23.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$28.94 GHS 334

$45.56 GHS 526

-36.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 GHS 469

$61.8 GHS 714

-34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 GHS 8,127

$118 GHS 1,364

495.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 GHS 2,955

$65.8 GHS 760

288.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 GHS 16.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 GHS 6,374

$136 GHS 1,575

304.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,960 GHS 115.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,047 GHS 69.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 GHS 4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

32.5

-21.85%

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

Last update for Cape Coast: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tema: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $704 in Cape Coast versus $118 in Tema. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cape Coast versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $183 – making Tema 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

Cape Coast vs Tema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cape Coast is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,212 per month in Cape Coast and $937 in Tema. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tema, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $808 in Cape Coast and $624 in Tema. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $73.4 per month in Cape Coast and $83.0 in Tema. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $624, than in Cape Coast at $808. In Tema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Coast it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tema – 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 Tema. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Coast makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.