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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $680 per month in Elmina vs $1,094 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Elmina vs $1,741 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Elmina vs $2,388 in Accra, rent included.

Elmina is about 38% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Elmina and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 50% lower, Accra 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.14 GHS 92.0
$8.04 GHS 90.9
1.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4 GHS 604
$54.2 GHS 612
-1.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 GHS 122
$10.76 GHS 122
0.46%
Cappuccino
$4.72 GHS 53.3
$4.47 GHS 50.5
5.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 GHS 18.66
$1.63 GHS 18.45
1.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 GHS 5.48
$0.49 GHS 5.50
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.86 GHS 21.01
$1.84 GHS 20.83
1.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 GHS 25.65
$2.37 GHS 26.81
-4.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.81 GHS 43.11
$3.71 GHS 41.97
2.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 GHS 20.34
$1.72 GHS 19.45
4.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 GHS 35.48
$3.13 GHS 35.35
0.32%
Eggs
$2.71 GHS 30.61
$2.69 GHS 30.36
0.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 GHS 142
$12.30 GHS 139
2.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.49 GHS 84.6
$7.43 GHS 84.0
0.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.26 GHS 116
$9.93 GHS 112
3.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 GHS 42.55
$3.79 GHS 42.83
-0.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 GHS 16.63
$1.47 GHS 16.64
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 GHS 21.06
$1.82 GHS 20.58
2.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 GHS 42.42
$3.68 GHS 41.60
1.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 GHS 31.80
$2.80 GHS 31.66
0.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 GHS 30.84
$2.74 GHS 30.96
-0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 GHS 8.78
$0.76 GHS 8.63
2.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 GHS 6.95
$0.61 GHS 6.93
1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59 GHS 29.23
$2.70 GHS 30.50
-4.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.16 GHS 80.9
$7.38 GHS 83.4
-2.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 GHS 14.93
$1.26 GHS 14.19
4.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 GHS 27.75
$2.43 GHS 27.47
1.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Accra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.59 GHS 17.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.38 GHS 468
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 GHS 19.53
$1.79 GHS 20.28
-3.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 GHS 14.59
$1.31 GHS 14.84
-1.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 GHS 49.50
$4.47 GHS 50.5
-2.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 GHS 15.73
$1.39 GHS 15.67
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,005 GHS 90.5K
$7,977 GHS 90.1K
0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.3K GHS 116.0K
$10.3K GHS 115.9K
0.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.0 GHS 836
$74.7 GHS 844
-1.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.52 GHS 221
$19.81 GHS 224
-1.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.23 GHS 489
$44.54 GHS 503
-2.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$72.1 GHS 814
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.03 GHS 215
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.10 GHS 148
$13.47 GHS 152
-2.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$468 GHS 5,294
$463 GHS 5,233
1.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.5K GHS 208.8K
$18.9K GHS 213.6K
-2.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.64 GHS 165
$14.82 GHS 167
-1.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.45 GHS 220
$18.92 GHS 214
2.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.21 GHS 420
$36.59 GHS 413
1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 GHS 621
$54.9 GHS 620
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Accra
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$181 GHS 2,048
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.75
26.75
-

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

Last update for Elmina: August 31, 2026

Last update for Accra: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Elmina versus $54.0 in Accra. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Elmina vs $285 in Accra – so Accra wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $680 in Elmina, $1,094 in Accra – roughly 61% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Elmina compared to Accra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,021 per month in Elmina and $1,640 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 $680 in Elmina and $1,094 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 $468 per month in Elmina and $463 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 $680, than in Accra at $1,094. 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.

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