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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Elmina vs $746 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $905 per month in Elmina vs $1,304 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,284 per month in Elmina vs $1,862 in Accra, rent included.

Elmina is about 29% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Elmina and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 61% lower, Accra 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 GHS 51.4
$4.34 GHS 50.2
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.28 GHS 558
$48.15 GHS 556
0.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 GHS 90.0
$7.70 GHS 89.0
1.17%
Cappuccino
$3.54 GHS 40.94
$3.50 GHS 40.43
1.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 GHS 10.68
$1.00 GHS 11.55
-8.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 GHS 3.96
$0.35 GHS 3.98
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 GHS 18.20
$1.53 GHS 17.62
3.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 GHS 28.60
$2.56 GHS 29.56
-3.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.47 GHS 40.09
$3.37 GHS 38.94
2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 GHS 16.80
$1.46 GHS 16.84
-0.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 GHS 27.33
$2.47 GHS 28.49
-4.05%
Eggs
$2.40 GHS 27.70
$2.27 GHS 26.20
5.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.04 GHS 128
$11.22 GHS 130
-1.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 GHS 52.4
$4.54 GHS 52.5
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.82 GHS 67.2
$5.87 GHS 67.8
-0.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 GHS 33.62
$2.90 GHS 33.47
0.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 GHS 16.13
$1.46 GHS 16.86
-4.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 GHS 19.69
$1.71 GHS 19.80
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 GHS 37.02
$3.17 GHS 36.62
1.26%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 GHS 34.64
$2.98 GHS 34.39
0.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 GHS 28.15
$2.46 GHS 28.40
-0.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 GHS 8.69
$0.76 GHS 8.80
-1.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 GHS 5.61
$0.48 GHS 5.54
2.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 GHS 19.05
$1.58 GHS 18.28
4.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 GHS 85.8
$7.30 GHS 84.4
1.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 GHS 12.85
$1.16 GHS 13.38
-4.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 GHS 22.64
$1.96 GHS 22.68
-
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Accra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.05 GHS 12.10
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$35.17 GHS 406
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 GHS 18.65
$1.54 GHS 17.76
5.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 GHS 13.54
$1.17 GHS 13.47
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 GHS 63.2
$5.38 GHS 62.1
1.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 GHS 12.59
$1.13 GHS 13.00
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,156 GHS 94.2K
$8,009 GHS 92.5K
1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,546 GHS 110.3K
$9,480 GHS 109.5K
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.5 GHS 652
$55.6 GHS 642
1.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 GHS 154
$13.03 GHS 150
2.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.32 GHS 443
$37.61 GHS 434
1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$35.17 GHS 406
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.03 GHS 185
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 GHS 115
$9.74 GHS 112
1.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 GHS 825
$72.2 GHS 834
-1.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,919 GHS 91.5K
$7,959 GHS 91.9K
-0.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.66 GHS 169
$14.51 GHS 168
1.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 GHS 222
$18.82 GHS 217
2.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$28.80 GHS 333
$28.88 GHS 334
-0.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.81 GHS 483
$40.84 GHS 472
2.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Accra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$530 GHS 6,119
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$147 GHS 1,700
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,048 GHS 12.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$378 GHS 4,369
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,797 GHS 32.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,469 GHS 17.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$180 GHS 2,083
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25.4
25.4
-

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

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Last update for Accra: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Elmina versus $48.00 in Accra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $234 – making Elmina 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
Elmina vs Accra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Elmina and in Accra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $526 in Elmina, $746 in Accra – roughly 42% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Elmina compared to Accra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Elmina and $1,119 in Accra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Elmina or Accra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Elmina and $746 in Accra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Elmina and Accra?
Kindergarten costs $71.4 per month in Elmina and $72.2 in Accra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elmina, where all-in costs run around $526, than in Accra at $746. In Elmina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Elmina or Accra?
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.
How do I decide between Elmina and Accra?
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.

Elmina vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities