Cost of Living Comparison Between Shimla and Kumasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shimla and Kumasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $332 per month in Shimla vs $441 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $532 per month in Shimla vs $735 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $732 per month in Shimla vs $1,030 in Kumasi, rent included.

Shimla is about 25% cheaper than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shimla and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Shimla 75% lower, Kumasi 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77 ₹169
$2.82 GHS 32.95
-37.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$5.84 ₹557
$31.97 GHS 373
-81.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.51 ₹335
$7.59 GHS 88.6
-53.75%
Cappuccino
$1.00 ₹95.5
$0.81 GHS 9.48
23.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₹32.46
$0.61 GHS 7.10
-44.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.70
$0.21 GHS 2.44
-23.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 ₹151
$0.90 GHS 10.53
75.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ₹224
$1.54 GHS 17.97
52.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹70.0
$1.79 GHS 20.87
-59.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 ₹42.80
$1.49 GHS 17.44
-69.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.62 ₹59.1
$1.67 GHS 19.50
-62.87%
Eggs
$0.92 ₹88.1
$2.18 GHS 25.45
-57.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.31 ₹411
$5.90 GHS 68.9
-26.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.59 ₹343
$4.44 GHS 51.9
-19.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$4.69 GHS 54.8
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₹184
$1.68 GHS 19.66
14.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ₹65.8
$0.80 GHS 9.36
-13.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.79 ₹75.8
$0.80 GHS 9.34
-1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 ₹53.2
$1.97 GHS 22.95
-71.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.01
$1.68 GHS 19.60
-77.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.43 ₹41.13
$1.12 GHS 13.11
-61.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 ₹22.92
$0.80 GHS 9.37
-70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹34.95
$0.48 GHS 5.59
-22.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.46 ₹426
$0.84 GHS 9.82
430.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.98 ₹665
$1.30 GHS 15.19
436.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₹170
$1.13 GHS 13.17
57.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₹215
$1.86 GHS 21.75
20.97%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.68 ₹542
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₹22.99
$0.42 GHS 4.88
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.93 ₹852
$19.90 GHS 232
-55.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 ₹78.9
$0.83 GHS 9.70
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.17 GHS 13.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₹113
$1.62 GHS 18.96
-27.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₹113
$1.10 GHS 12.88
7.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1K ₹1.4M
$7,848 GHS 91.7K
92.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K ₹1.9M
$9,763 GHS 114.0K
105.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.55 ₹1,864
$41.21 GHS 481
-52.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.54 ₹338
$13.12 GHS 153
-73.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.68 ₹733
$38.15 GHS 446
-79.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.43 ₹1,376
$28.31 GHS 331
-49.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.10 ₹677
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.46 ₹330
$9.49 GHS 111
-63.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.25 ₹4,315
$72.2 GHS 843
-37.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,380 ₹227.0K
$5,498 GHS 64.2K
-56.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.95 ₹3,238
$14.42 GHS 168
135.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.04 ₹2,675
$19.03 GHS 222
47.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.40 ₹4,521
$28.90 GHS 338
64.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.42 ₹2,806
$40.66 GHS 475
-27.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$96.7 ₹9,225
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$58.7 ₹5,594
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 ₹21.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₹13.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$980 ₹93.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$525 ₹50.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$554 ₹52.8K
$308 GHS 3,592
80.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.25
25.4
-67.52%

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

Last update for Shimla: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: July 26, 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 $6.00 in Shimla versus $32.00 in Kumasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $157 – 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
Shimla vs Kumasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shimla and in Kumasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $332 in Shimla, $441 in Kumasi – roughly 33% apart. Kumasi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Shimla compared to Kumasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $498 per month in Shimla and $662 in Kumasi. 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 $6.00 in Shimla and $32.00 in Kumasi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Shimla compared to Kumasi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $332 in Shimla and $441 in Kumasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Shimla or Kumasi?
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 Shimla or Kumasi 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 Shimla and Kumasi?
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.

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