Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and AccraCost 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 – Elmina60% lower, Accra43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.31GHS 50.7
$4.29GHS 50.4
0.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.20GHS 554
$46.88GHS 550
0.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91GHS 92.9
$7.82GHS 91.9
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.49GHS 40.97
$3.45GHS 40.53
1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93GHS 10.87
$0.94GHS 11.07
-1.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34GHS 4.05
$0.34GHS 4.03
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56GHS 18.37
$1.58GHS 18.53
-1.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56GHS 30.01
$2.52GHS 29.59
1.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.45GHS 40.52
$3.37GHS 39.62
2.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43GHS 16.81
$1.43GHS 16.81
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35GHS 27.59
$2.43GHS 28.52
-3.29%
Eggs
$2.30GHS 26.98
$2.29GHS 26.90
0.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32GHS 133
$11.36GHS 133
-0.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79GHS 56.2
$4.62GHS 54.2
3.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.00GHS 70.5
$6.03GHS 70.8
-0.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89GHS 33.93
$2.90GHS 34.10
-0.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43GHS 16.81
$1.44GHS 16.89
-0.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69GHS 19.83
$1.64GHS 19.29
3.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.19GHS 37.48
$3.08GHS 36.13
3.57%
Potato(1kg)
$3.10GHS 36.34
$3.13GHS 36.71
-0.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43GHS 28.55
$2.42GHS 28.44
0.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77GHS 9.00
$0.82GHS 9.58
-6.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51GHS 6.03
$0.52GHS 6.06
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59GHS 18.62
$1.58GHS 18.50
0.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.05GHS 82.8
$7.07GHS 83.0
-0.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12GHS 13.16
$1.12GHS 13.15
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93GHS 22.68
$1.93GHS 22.66
-
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Accra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.04GHS 12.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.78GHS 408
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55GHS 18.18
$1.56GHS 18.30
-0.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21GHS 14.18
$1.18GHS 13.83
2.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40GHS 63.3
$5.40GHS 63.4
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07GHS 12.59
$1.07GHS 12.55
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,843GHS 92.1K
$8,145GHS 95.6K
-3.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,458GHS 111.0K
$9,815GHS 115.2K
-3.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.7GHS 642
$56.4GHS 662
-3.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.44GHS 158
$13.00GHS 153
3.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.50GHS 440
$37.61GHS 441
-0.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$35.58GHS 418
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.03GHS 188
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.70GHS 114
$9.60GHS 113
1.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.4GHS 861
$72.0GHS 845
1.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,040GHS 94.4K
$7,954GHS 93.4K
1.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.53GHS 171
$14.88GHS 175
-2.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.52GHS 217
$18.54GHS 218
-0.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.62GHS 348
$28.78GHS 338
2.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.75GHS 478
$40.81GHS 479
-0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Accra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$529GHS 6,212
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$150GHS 1,764
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,038GHS 12.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$365GHS 4,287
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841GHS 33.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,501GHS 17.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Accra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172GHS 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.