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 $801 per month in Cape Coast vs $611 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Cape Coast vs $989 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,829 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,367 in Tema, rent included.

Cape Coast costs about 31% 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 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 GHS 52.0

$7.50 GHS 88.0

-40.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.03 GHS 564

$27.73 GHS 326

73.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 GHS 93.4

$8.18 GHS 96.0

-2.81%

Cappuccino

$3.43 GHS 40.28

$1.46 GHS 17.14

134.93%

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

$0.93 GHS 10.93

$1.00 GHS 11.78

-7.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 GHS 4.38

$0.33 GHS 3.93

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 GHS 18.61

$1.74 GHS 20.38

-8.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 GHS 28.79

$2.69 GHS 31.63

-8.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.48 GHS 40.80

$2.98 GHS 34.94

16.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 GHS 17.52

$1.68 GHS 19.69

-11.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 GHS 27.63

$1.55 GHS 18.22

51.61%

Eggs

$2.29 GHS 26.84

$2.18 GHS 25.64

5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.26 GHS 132

$3.72 GHS 43.73

202.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 GHS 54.1

$2.73 GHS 32.08

68.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.01 GHS 70.6

$2.44 GHS 28.63

146.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 GHS 34.27

$2.71 GHS 31.76

7.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 GHS 16.32

$2.08 GHS 24.38

-33.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 GHS 20.04

$2.07 GHS 24.27

-17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 GHS 37.41

$2.89 GHS 33.97

10.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 GHS 36.87

$1.84 GHS 21.60

70.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 GHS 27.22

$1.97 GHS 23.15

17.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 GHS 8.94

$0.61 GHS 7.16

24.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 GHS 5.71

$0.82 GHS 9.63

-40.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 GHS 19.44

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 GHS 82.9

$7.21 GHS 84.7

-2.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 GHS 13.22

$0.82 GHS 9.66

37.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 GHS 22.28

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 GHS 23.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.80 GHS 467

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 GHS 18.26

$1.42 GHS 16.64

9.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 GHS 13.74

$0.77 GHS 9.00

51.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.63 GHS 66.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 GHS 13.08

$1.19 GHS 13.98

-6.72%

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

$8,141 GHS 95.6K

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

$9,796 GHS 115.0K

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

$55.8 GHS 655

$30.84 GHS 362

80.84%

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

$13.40 GHS 157

$12.26 GHS 144

9.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.90 GHS 445

$64.6 GHS 759

-41.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.37 GHS 227

Cinema Ticket

$9.88 GHS 116

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

$73.0 GHS 858

$82.4 GHS 967

-11.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,176 GHS 96.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.92 GHS 175

$25.07 GHS 294

-40.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.60 GHS 218

$24.67 GHS 290

-24.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.54 GHS 347

$45.82 GHS 538

-35.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.13 GHS 483

$60.6 GHS 712

-32.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 GHS 8,166

$117 GHS 1,371

495.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 GHS 3,057

$66.6 GHS 782

290.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,404 GHS 16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 GHS 6,507

$139 GHS 1,629

299.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K GHS 117.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,030 GHS 70.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$390 GHS 4,576

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tema: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Cape Coast versus $117 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 $48.00 in Cape Coast versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 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 31%, 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 $1,201 per month in Cape Coast and $916 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 $801 in Cape Coast and $611 in Tema. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $73.0 per month in Cape Coast and $82.4 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 $611, than in Cape Coast at $801. 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.