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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Phuket costs about 138% more than Elmina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.45 GHS 51.4

2.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$48.28 GHS 557

-4.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$7.79 GHS 89.9

13.48%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$3.54 GHS 40.91

-13.56%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.92 GHS 10.67

-20.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.34 GHS 3.96

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.58 GHS 18.18

53.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.48 GHS 28.58

52.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$3.47 GHS 40.05

-34.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.45 GHS 16.79

24.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.37 GHS 27.31

-5.06%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.40 GHS 27.68

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$11.04 GHS 127

76.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.54 GHS 52.4

-19.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$5.82 GHS 67.2

124.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.91 GHS 33.59

11.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.40 GHS 16.11

15.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.71 GHS 19.68

39.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$3.21 GHS 36.99

-36.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$3.00 GHS 34.61

-49.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.44 GHS 28.12

-38.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.75 GHS 8.68

30.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.49 GHS 5.60

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.65 GHS 19.04

169.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$7.42 GHS 85.7

146.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.11 GHS 12.84

67.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.96 GHS 22.62

36.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.62 GHS 18.64

91.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$1.17 GHS 13.53

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$5.48 GHS 63.2

157.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.09 GHS 12.58

20.18%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$8,156 GHS 94.1K

241.03%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$9,546 GHS 110.2K

247.96%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$56.5 GHS 651

116.90%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$13.33 GHS 154

1.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$38.32 GHS 442

-51.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$9.92 GHS 114

-8.57%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$71.4 GHS 824

889.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$7,919 GHS 91.4K

99.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$14.66 GHS 169

299.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$19.23 GHS 222

83.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$28.80 GHS 332

300.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$41.81 GHS 483

100.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

25.4

-79.02%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $48.00 in Elmina. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $234 in Elmina – 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

Phuket vs Elmina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $789 in Elmina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $48.00 in Elmina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.