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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Elmina vs $766 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $903 per month in Elmina vs $1,317 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Elmina vs $1,867 in Accra, rent included.

Elmina is about 31% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Elmina and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 60% lower, Accra 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.31 GHS 50.7
$4.29 GHS 50.4
0.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.20 GHS 554
$46.88 GHS 550
0.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 GHS 92.9
$7.82 GHS 91.9
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.49 GHS 40.97
$3.45 GHS 40.53
1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 GHS 10.87
$0.94 GHS 11.07
-1.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 GHS 4.05
$0.34 GHS 4.03
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 GHS 18.37
$1.58 GHS 18.53
-1.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 GHS 30.01
$2.52 GHS 29.59
1.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.45 GHS 40.52
$3.37 GHS 39.62
2.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 GHS 16.81
$1.43 GHS 16.81
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 GHS 27.59
$2.43 GHS 28.52
-3.29%
Eggs
$2.30 GHS 26.98
$2.29 GHS 26.90
0.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 GHS 133
$11.36 GHS 133
-0.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.79 GHS 56.2
$4.62 GHS 54.2
3.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.00 GHS 70.5
$6.03 GHS 70.8
-0.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 GHS 33.93
$2.90 GHS 34.10
-0.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 GHS 16.81
$1.44 GHS 16.89
-0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 GHS 19.83
$1.64 GHS 19.29
3.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 GHS 37.48
$3.08 GHS 36.13
3.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.10 GHS 36.34
$3.13 GHS 36.71
-0.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 GHS 28.55
$2.42 GHS 28.44
0.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 GHS 9.00
$0.82 GHS 9.58
-6.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 GHS 6.03
$0.52 GHS 6.06
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59 GHS 18.62
$1.58 GHS 18.50
0.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.05 GHS 82.8
$7.07 GHS 83.0
-0.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 GHS 13.16
$1.12 GHS 13.15
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 GHS 22.68
$1.93 GHS 22.66
-
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Accra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.04 GHS 12.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$34.78 GHS 408
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 GHS 18.18
$1.56 GHS 18.30
-0.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 GHS 14.18
$1.18 GHS 13.83
2.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 GHS 63.3
$5.40 GHS 63.4
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 GHS 12.59
$1.07 GHS 12.55
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,843 GHS 92.1K
$8,145 GHS 95.6K
-3.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,458 GHS 111.0K
$9,815 GHS 115.2K
-3.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.7 GHS 642
$56.4 GHS 662
-3.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.44 GHS 158
$13.00 GHS 153
3.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.50 GHS 440
$37.61 GHS 441
-0.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$35.58 GHS 418
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.03 GHS 188
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.70 GHS 114
$9.60 GHS 113
1.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.4 GHS 861
$72.0 GHS 845
1.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,040 GHS 94.4K
$7,954 GHS 93.4K
1.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.53 GHS 171
$14.88 GHS 175
-2.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.52 GHS 217
$18.54 GHS 218
-0.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$29.62 GHS 348
$28.78 GHS 338
2.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.75 GHS 478
$40.81 GHS 479
-0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Accra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$529 GHS 6,212
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$150 GHS 1,764
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,038 GHS 12.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$365 GHS 4,287
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 GHS 33.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,501 GHS 17.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 GHS 2,025
-
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Accra: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Elmina versus $47.00 in Accra. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Elmina vs $235 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 Accra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $532 in Elmina, $766 in Accra – roughly 44% 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 $798 per month in Elmina and $1,150 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 $532 in Elmina and $766 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 $73.4 per month in Elmina and $72.0 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 $532, than in Accra at $766. 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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