Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Elmina vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $905 per month in Elmina vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,284 per month in Elmina vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Elmina is about 58% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Elmina and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 61% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 GHS 51.4
$4.55 ฿153
-2.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.28 GHS 558
$46.18 ฿1,554
4.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 GHS 90.0
$8.84 ฿298
-11.88%
Cappuccino
$3.54 GHS 40.94
$3.06 ฿103
15.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 GHS 10.68
$0.73 ฿24.42
26.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 GHS 3.96
$0.40 ฿13.40
-15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 GHS 18.20
$2.43 ฿81.8
-34.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 GHS 28.60
$3.78 ฿127
-34.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.47 GHS 40.09
$2.26 ฿76.0
53.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 GHS 16.80
$1.81 ฿60.9
-19.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 GHS 27.33
$2.25 ฿75.8
5.33%
Eggs
$2.40 GHS 27.70
$2.25 ฿75.6
6.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.04 GHS 128
$19.51 ฿656
-43.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 GHS 52.4
$3.65 ฿123
24.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.82 GHS 67.2
$13.05 ฿439
-55.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 GHS 33.62
$3.23 ฿109
-9.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 GHS 16.13
$1.62 ฿54.4
-13.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 GHS 19.69
$2.38 ฿80.2
-28.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 GHS 37.02
$2.03 ฿68.2
58.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 GHS 34.64
$1.53 ฿51.6
96.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 GHS 28.15
$1.50 ฿50.5
62.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 GHS 8.69
$0.98 ฿32.93
-23.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 GHS 5.61
$0.52 ฿17.40
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 GHS 19.05
$4.44 ฿149
-62.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 GHS 85.8
$18.32 ฿616
-59.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 GHS 12.85
$1.86 ฿62.7
-40.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 GHS 22.64
$2.68 ฿90.2
-26.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.41 ฿47.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿394
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 GHS 18.65
$3.11 ฿105
-47.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 GHS 13.54
$1.04 ฿35.08
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 GHS 63.2
$14.11 ฿475
-61.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 GHS 12.59
$1.31 ฿44.13
-16.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,156 GHS 94.2K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-70.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,546 GHS 110.3K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-71.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.5 GHS 652
$122 ฿4,120
-53.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 GHS 154
$13.59 ฿457
-1.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.32 GHS 443
$18.70 ฿629
104.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.5 ฿2,035
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 GHS 115
$9.07 ฿305
9.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 GHS 825
$706 ฿23.8K
-89.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,919 GHS 91.5K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-49.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.66 GHS 169
$58.6 ฿1,970
-74.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 GHS 222
$35.36 ฿1,190
-45.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$28.80 GHS 333
$115 ฿3,885
-75.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.81 GHS 483
$83.7 ฿2,818
-50.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$626 ฿21.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$445 ฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25.4
5.33
376.55%

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

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Elmina versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Elmina vs $289 in Phuket – so Elmina 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Elmina?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 138%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Elmina and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Elmina or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Elmina and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Elmina and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Elmina or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elmina, where all-in costs run around $526, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Elmina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Elmina or Phuket more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Elmina or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Elmina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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