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 $1,292 per month in Cape Coast vs $773 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,223 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,797 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,673 in Tema, rent included.

Cape Coast costs about 67% more than Tema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cape Coast and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Cape Coast 6% lower, Tema 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 GHS 92.1

$7.17 GHS 81.0

13.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 GHS 612

$28.28 GHS 320

91.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 GHS 123

Cappuccino

$4.62 GHS 52.2

$5.21 GHS 58.9

-11.32%

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

$1.66 GHS 18.71

$0.92 GHS 10.34

80.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 GHS 5.20

$0.31 GHS 3.52

48.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 GHS 21.83

$3.42 GHS 38.62

-43.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 GHS 26.51

$2.72 GHS 30.68

-13.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.68 GHS 41.61

$3.40 GHS 38.44

8.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 GHS 19.34

$1.65 GHS 18.69

3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 GHS 35.42

$2.12 GHS 23.99

47.64%

Eggs

$2.68 GHS 30.26

$2.44 GHS 27.57

9.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 GHS 138

$4.52 GHS 51.1

170.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 GHS 85.9

$3.31 GHS 37.35

129.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 GHS 112

$3.49 GHS 39.39

183.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 GHS 41.36

$2.60 GHS 29.38

40.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 GHS 16.31

$2.25 GHS 25.42

-36.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 GHS 20.56

$2.24 GHS 25.26

-18.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 GHS 41.46

$3.59 GHS 40.57

2.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 GHS 31.27

$3.62 GHS 40.93

-23.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 GHS 32.21

$2.93 GHS 33.05

-2.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 GHS 8.87

$0.42 GHS 4.79

85.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 GHS 6.66

$0.74 GHS 8.37

-20.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 GHS 30.70

$1.31 GHS 14.76

107.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.13 GHS 80.5

$8.77 GHS 99.1

-18.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 GHS 14.72

$2.28 GHS 25.78

-42.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 GHS 27.65

$3.19 GHS 36.01

-23.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 GHS 19.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.36 GHS 490

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 GHS 20.65

$2.26 GHS 25.57

-19.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 GHS 15.42

$0.42 GHS 4.78

223.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 GHS 50.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 GHS 15.27

$1.17 GHS 13.16

15.38%

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

$7,970 GHS 90.1K

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

$9,968 GHS 112.6K

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

$73.7 GHS 832

$80.8 GHS 913

-8.78%

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

$19.82 GHS 224

$15.84 GHS 179

25.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.67 GHS 505

$85.2 GHS 963

-47.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.86 GHS 281

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 GHS 151

$8.86 GHS 100

51.24%

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

$467 GHS 5,281

$177 GHS 2,005

163.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K GHS 212.9K

$2,686 GHS 30.4K

601.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.97 GHS 169

$13.47 GHS 152

11.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.90 GHS 214

$16.06 GHS 181

17.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.76 GHS 427

$44.07 GHS 498

-14.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 GHS 613

$32.93 GHS 372

64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$629 GHS 7,110

$135 GHS 1,531

364.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 GHS 6,729

$73.4 GHS 829

711.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 GHS 14.6K

$441 GHS 4,988

191.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 GHS 13.0K

$219 GHS 2,471

424.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,991 GHS 112.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,102 GHS 69.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 GHS 4,847

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.75

-23.57%

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

Last update for Cape Coast: August 29, 2026

Last update for Tema: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $629 in Cape Coast versus $135 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 $54.0 in Cape Coast versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $225 – 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 67%, 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 $1,937 per month in Cape Coast and $1,160 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 $1,292 in Cape Coast and $773 in Tema. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $467 per month in Cape Coast and $177 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 $773, than in Cape Coast at $1,292. 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.