Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Tema Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Tema

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Elmina vs $624 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $905 per month in Elmina vs $995 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,284 per month in Elmina vs $1,365 in Tema, rent included.

Elmina is about 16% cheaper than Tema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Elmina and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 61% lower, Tema 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 GHS 51.4

$7.19 GHS 83.0

-38.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.28 GHS 558

$27.76 GHS 321

73.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 GHS 90.0

$7.82 GHS 90.3

-0.38%

Cappuccino

$3.54 GHS 40.94

$1.46 GHS 16.84

142.47%

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

$0.92 GHS 10.68

$1.04 GHS 12.05

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 GHS 3.96

$0.31 GHS 3.57

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 GHS 18.20

$1.74 GHS 20.04

-9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 GHS 28.60

$2.67 GHS 30.81

-7.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.47 GHS 40.09

$3.05 GHS 35.25

13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 GHS 16.80

$1.62 GHS 18.66

-10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 GHS 27.33

$1.56 GHS 18.06

51.92%

Eggs

$2.40 GHS 27.70

$2.19 GHS 25.24

9.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 GHS 128

$3.66 GHS 42.30

201.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 GHS 52.4

$2.64 GHS 30.46

71.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.82 GHS 67.2

$2.41 GHS 27.83

141.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 GHS 33.62

$2.83 GHS 32.68

2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 GHS 16.13

$2.02 GHS 23.38

-30.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 GHS 19.69

$2.09 GHS 24.13

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 GHS 37.02

$2.86 GHS 32.98

12.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 GHS 34.64

$1.82 GHS 20.99

64.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 GHS 28.15

$1.99 GHS 22.93

22.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 GHS 8.69

$0.64 GHS 7.39

17.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 GHS 5.61

$0.88 GHS 10.13

-44.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 GHS 19.05

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 GHS 85.8

$7.04 GHS 81.3

5.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 GHS 12.85

$0.88 GHS 10.11

26.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 GHS 22.64

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 GHS 24.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.03 GHS 462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 GHS 18.65

$1.36 GHS 15.76

19.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 GHS 13.54

$0.76 GHS 8.76

53.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 GHS 63.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 GHS 12.59

$1.20 GHS 13.81

-9.17%

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

$8,156 GHS 94.2K

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

$9,546 GHS 110.3K

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

$56.5 GHS 652

$31.32 GHS 362

80.24%

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

$13.33 GHS 154

$12.42 GHS 143

7.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.32 GHS 443

$64.6 GHS 746

-40.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.29 GHS 223

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 GHS 115

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

$71.4 GHS 825

$83.0 GHS 958

-13.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,919 GHS 91.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.66 GHS 169

$24.46 GHS 282

-40.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.23 GHS 222

$24.21 GHS 280

-20.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$28.80 GHS 333

$45.56 GHS 526

-36.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.81 GHS 483

$61.8 GHS 714

-32.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 GHS 1,364

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 GHS 760

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GHS 1,575

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,960 GHS 115.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,047 GHS 69.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 GHS 4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

32.5

-21.85%

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

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tema: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Elmina versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $183 – making Tema the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tema is pricier by about 19%, 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 $789 per month in Elmina and $937 in Tema. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Elmina and $28.00 in Tema. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Tema – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $526 in Elmina and $624 in Tema, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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