Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Tamale Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Tamale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $680 per month in Elmina vs $146 in Tamale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Elmina vs $220 in Tamale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Elmina vs $294 in Tamale, rent included.

Elmina costs about 367% more than Tamale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Elmina and Tamale are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 50% lower, Tamale 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.14 GHS 92.0

$3.62 GHS 40.85

124.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.4 GHS 604

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 GHS 122

$10.87 GHS 123

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$4.72 GHS 53.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 GHS 18.66

$0.86 GHS 9.71

91.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 GHS 5.48

$0.42 GHS 4.73

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 GHS 21.01

$0.91 GHS 10.23

104.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 GHS 25.65

$1.35 GHS 15.23

68.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.81 GHS 43.11

$3.09 GHS 34.97

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 GHS 20.34

$1.70 GHS 19.24

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 GHS 35.48

$3.84 GHS 43.36

-18.23%

Eggs

$2.71 GHS 30.61

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 GHS 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 GHS 84.6

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 GHS 116

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 GHS 42.55

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 GHS 16.63

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 GHS 21.06

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 GHS 42.42

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 GHS 31.80

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 GHS 30.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 GHS 8.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 GHS 6.95

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 GHS 29.23

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 GHS 80.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 GHS 14.93

$1.31 GHS 14.85

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 GHS 27.75

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 GHS 10.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 GHS 19.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 GHS 14.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 GHS 49.50

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 GHS 15.73

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,005 GHS 90.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$10.3K GHS 116.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$74.0 GHS 836

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.52 GHS 221

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.23 GHS 489

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 GHS 148

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$468 GHS 5,294

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K GHS 208.8K

$9,010 GHS 101.8K

105.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.64 GHS 165

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 GHS 220

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.21 GHS 420

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 GHS 621

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Tamale: August 29, 2026

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 Tamale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Elmina is pricier by about 367%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,021 per month in Elmina and $218 in Tamale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $680 in Elmina and $146 in Tamale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 314% more in Elmina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $680 in Elmina and $146 in Tamale, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Tamale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Tamale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elmina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.