Cost of Living Comparison Between Kumasi and ShimlaCost of Living Comparison Between Kumasi and Shimla
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $441 per month in Kumasi vs $332 in Shimla, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $735 per month in Kumasi vs $532 in Shimla, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,030 per month in Kumasi vs $732 in Shimla, rent included.
😐Kumasi costs about 33% more than Shimla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kumasi and Shimla are more affordable than the global median – Kumasi67% lower, Shimla75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82GHS 32.95
$1.77₹169
59.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97GHS 373
$5.84₹558
447.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.59GHS 88.6
$3.51₹336
116.24%
Cappuccino
$0.81GHS 9.48
$1.00₹95.8
-19.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61GHS 7.10
$0.34₹32.55
79.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21GHS 2.44
$0.16₹15.75
31.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.90GHS 10.53
$1.58₹151
-43.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54GHS 17.97
$2.35₹225
-34.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79GHS 20.87
$0.73₹70.2
145.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49GHS 17.44
$0.45₹42.92
231.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67GHS 19.50
$0.62₹59.3
169.35%
Eggs
$2.18GHS 25.45
$0.92₹88.3
136.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.90GHS 68.9
$4.31₹412
36.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.44GHS 51.9
$3.59₹343
23.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.69GHS 54.8
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.68GHS 19.66
$1.93₹184
-12.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.80GHS 9.36
$0.69₹66.0
15.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.80GHS 9.34
$0.79₹76.0
1.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97GHS 22.95
$0.56₹53.4
251.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68GHS 19.60
$0.38₹36.11
342.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12GHS 13.11
$0.43₹41.24
160.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80GHS 9.37
$0.24₹22.99
233.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48GHS 5.59
$0.37₹35.05
29.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.84GHS 9.82
$4.46₹427
-81.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.30GHS 15.19
$6.98₹667
-81.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13GHS 13.17
$1.78₹170
-36.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86GHS 21.75
$2.25₹215
-17.33%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.68₹544
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42GHS 4.88
$0.24₹23.06
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.90GHS 232
$8.93₹854
122.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83GHS 9.70
$0.83₹79.2
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17GHS 13.63
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.62GHS 18.96
$1.18₹113
37.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10GHS 12.88
$1.18₹113
-6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,848GHS 91.7K
$15.1K₹1.4M
-47.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,763GHS 114.0K
$20.1K₹1.9M
-51.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.21GHS 481
$19.55₹1,870
110.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12GHS 153
$3.54₹339
270.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.15GHS 446
$7.68₹735
396.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.31GHS 331
$14.43₹1,380
96.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.10₹679
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.49GHS 111
$3.46₹331
174.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.2GHS 843
$45.25₹4,327
59.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,498GHS 64.2K
$2,380₹227.6K
131.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.42GHS 168
$33.95₹3,247
-57.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.03GHS 222
$28.04₹2,682
-32.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$28.90GHS 338
$47.40₹4,533
-39.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.66GHS 475
$29.42₹2,814
38.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$96.7₹9,250
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$58.7₹5,610
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$225₹21.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$138₹13.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$980₹93.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$525₹50.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumasi
Shimla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$308GHS 3,592
$554₹52.9K
-44.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.4
8.25
207.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumasi: July 26, 2026
Last update for Shimla: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 80% higher in Shimla, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Kumasi versus $6.00 in Shimla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $103 – making Shimla 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
Kumasi vs Shimla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kumasi and in Shimla compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $441 in Kumasi, $332 in Shimla – roughly 33% apart. Kumasi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kumasi compared to Shimla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $662 per month in Kumasi and $498 in Shimla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Kumasi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Kumasi and $6.00 in Shimla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Kumasi compared to Shimla?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $441 in Kumasi and $332 in Shimla, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kumasi or Shimla?
Families tend to lean toward Shimla – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Kumasi or Shimla safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kumasi and Shimla?
If budget matters most, go with Shimla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kumasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.