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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $307 per month in Shimla vs $512 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $509 per month in Shimla vs $844 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $711 per month in Shimla vs $1,176 in Kumasi, rent included.

Shimla is about 40% cheaper than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shimla and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Shimla 78% lower, Kumasi 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.55 ₹149
$3.55 GHS 40.73
-56.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$5.28 ₹506
$35.33 GHS 406
-85.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.11 ₹298
$10.74 GHS 123
-71.04%
Cappuccino
$0.88 ₹84.7
$1.09 GHS 12.56
-19.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.73
$0.73 GHS 8.43
-47.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10 ₹9.30
$0.27 GHS 3.13
-62.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 ₹150
$0.99 GHS 11.39
57.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₹205
$1.78 GHS 20.40
20.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹60.4
$1.90 GHS 21.78
-66.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 ₹35.50
$1.70 GHS 19.53
-78.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.59 ₹56.4
$1.72 GHS 19.69
-65.70%
Eggs
$0.84 ₹80.6
$2.44 GHS 27.96
-65.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.13 ₹396
$5.85 GHS 67.2
-29.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₹309
$4.49 GHS 51.5
-28.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.00 GHS 57.4
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ₹171
$1.71 GHS 19.62
4.09%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹71.5
$0.90 GHS 10.38
-17.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 ₹65.0
$0.84 GHS 9.62
-19.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.45 ₹43.04
$2.21 GHS 25.33
-79.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 ₹28.86
$1.69 GHS 19.43
-82.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.33 ₹32.03
$1.35 GHS 15.48
-75.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.20 ₹19.14
$0.77 GHS 8.82
-74.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 ₹25.68
$0.61 GHS 6.98
-55.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₹325
$0.85 GHS 9.79
297.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 ₹795
$1.28 GHS 14.70
547.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₹147
$1.28 GHS 14.70
19.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₹201
$2.34 GHS 26.84
-10.68%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$3.79 ₹364
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₹21.11
$0.53 GHS 6.11
-58.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.98 ₹766
$20.67 GHS 237
-61.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₹98.6
$0.84 GHS 9.67
22.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.67
$1.34 GHS 15.33
-77.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ₹97.4
$1.76 GHS 20.22
-42.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 ₹99.9
$1.11 GHS 12.78
-6.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,478 ₹813.4K
$8,149 GHS 93.6K
4.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ₹1.7M
$9,811 GHS 112.6K
82.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$18.06 ₹1,733
$43.15 GHS 495
-58.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.05 ₹292
$19.77 GHS 227
-84.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.63 ₹636
$43.20 GHS 496
-84.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.95 ₹1,339
$30.53 GHS 351
-54.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.41 ₹999
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.21 ₹308
$13.01 GHS 149
-75.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.67 ₹3,902
$458 GHS 5,257
-91.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,112 ₹202.6K
$5,431 GHS 62.3K
-61.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.35 ₹2,432
$14.62 GHS 168
73.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.99 ₹2,110
$19.24 GHS 221
14.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.43 ₹3,687
$36.89 GHS 424
4.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.27 ₹2,520
$54.0 GHS 620
-51.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$85.7 ₹8,221
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.2 ₹5,007
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 ₹19.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 ₹16.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$980 ₹94.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$496 ₹47.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 ₹59.7K
$420 GHS 4,825
48.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.25
26.75
-69.16%

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

Last update for Shimla: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 48% 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 $5.00 in Shimla versus $35.00 in Kumasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $168 – 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: $307 in Shimla, $512 in Kumasi – roughly 67% 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 $461 per month in Shimla and $768 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 74% 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 $5.00 in Shimla and $35.00 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 $307 in Shimla and $512 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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