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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Elmina vs $611 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $903 per month in Elmina vs $989 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Elmina vs $1,367 in Tema, rent included.

Elmina is about 13% cheaper than Tema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Elmina and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Elmina 60% lower, Tema 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.31 GHS 50.7

$7.50 GHS 88.0

-42.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.20 GHS 554

$27.73 GHS 326

70.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 GHS 92.9

$8.18 GHS 96.0

-3.30%

Cappuccino

$3.49 GHS 40.97

$1.46 GHS 17.14

139.04%

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

$0.93 GHS 10.87

$1.00 GHS 11.78

-7.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 GHS 4.05

$0.33 GHS 3.93

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 GHS 18.37

$1.74 GHS 20.38

-10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 GHS 30.01

$2.69 GHS 31.63

-4.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.45 GHS 40.52

$2.98 GHS 34.94

15.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 GHS 16.81

$1.68 GHS 19.69

-14.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 GHS 27.59

$1.55 GHS 18.22

51.61%

Eggs

$2.30 GHS 26.98

$2.18 GHS 25.64

5.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 GHS 133

$3.72 GHS 43.73

204.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 GHS 56.2

$2.73 GHS 32.08

75.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.00 GHS 70.5

$2.44 GHS 28.63

145.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 GHS 33.93

$2.71 GHS 31.76

6.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 GHS 16.81

$2.08 GHS 24.38

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 GHS 19.83

$2.07 GHS 24.27

-18.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 GHS 37.48

$2.89 GHS 33.97

10.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 GHS 36.34

$1.84 GHS 21.60

68.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 GHS 28.55

$1.97 GHS 23.15

23.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 GHS 9.00

$0.61 GHS 7.16

26.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 GHS 6.03

$0.82 GHS 9.63

-37.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 GHS 18.62

Wine (Bottle)

$7.05 GHS 82.8

$7.21 GHS 84.7

-2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 GHS 13.16

$0.82 GHS 9.66

36.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 GHS 22.68

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 GHS 23.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.80 GHS 467

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 GHS 18.18

$1.42 GHS 16.64

9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 GHS 14.18

$0.77 GHS 9.00

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.40 GHS 63.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 GHS 12.59

$1.19 GHS 13.98

-10.08%

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

$7,843 GHS 92.1K

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

$9,458 GHS 111.0K

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

$54.7 GHS 642

$30.84 GHS 362

77.20%

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

$13.44 GHS 158

$12.26 GHS 144

9.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.50 GHS 440

$64.6 GHS 759

-41.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.37 GHS 227

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 GHS 114

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

$73.4 GHS 861

$82.4 GHS 967

-10.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,040 GHS 94.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.53 GHS 171

$25.07 GHS 294

-42.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.52 GHS 217

$24.67 GHS 290

-24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.62 GHS 348

$45.82 GHS 538

-35.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.75 GHS 478

$60.6 GHS 712

-32.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 GHS 1,371

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.6 GHS 782

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 GHS 1,629

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K GHS 117.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,030 GHS 70.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$390 GHS 4,576

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tema: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Elmina versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 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 15%, 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 $798 per month in Elmina and $916 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 $47.00 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 29% 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 $532 in Elmina and $611 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.