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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $337 per month in Shimla vs $434 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $539 per month in Shimla vs $725 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $742 per month in Shimla vs $1,016 in Kumasi, rent included.

Shimla is about 22% cheaper than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shimla and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Shimla 75% lower, Kumasi 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 ₹167
$2.82 GHS 31.39
-36.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$5.90 ₹554
$32.66 GHS 364
-81.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.56 ₹334
$7.63 GHS 84.9
-53.34%
Cappuccino
$0.93 ₹87.2
$0.89 GHS 9.89
4.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.53
$0.56 GHS 6.19
-44.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.11
$0.21 GHS 2.34
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 ₹152
$0.87 GHS 9.72
86.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₹216
$1.61 GHS 17.86
42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 ₹70.7
$1.71 GHS 18.98
-56.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₹41.38
$1.48 GHS 16.50
-70.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 ₹59.8
$1.61 GHS 17.91
-60.25%
Eggs
$0.86 ₹80.3
$2.17 GHS 24.13
-60.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.36 ₹409
$5.67 GHS 63.1
-23.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.70 ₹347
$4.38 GHS 48.79
-15.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$4.95 GHS 55.1
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ₹185
$1.63 GHS 18.15
20.86%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹65.5
$0.79 GHS 8.81
-11.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 ₹76.7
$0.84 GHS 9.33
-2.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 ₹52.3
$1.89 GHS 21.08
-70.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹32.54
$1.68 GHS 18.70
-79.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 ₹41.34
$1.09 GHS 12.11
-59.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.22 ₹20.63
$0.81 GHS 8.99
-72.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₹31.54
$0.48 GHS 5.36
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.46 ₹418
$0.78 GHS 8.67
471.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.26 ₹494
$1.28 GHS 14.21
310.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ₹159
$1.17 GHS 13.02
44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₹211
$1.94 GHS 21.64
15.98%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.91 ₹555
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₹20.53
$0.42 GHS 4.64
-47.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.78 ₹824
$19.88 GHS 221
-55.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 ₹77.8
$0.81 GHS 8.97
2.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.22 GHS 13.55
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₹110
$1.63 GHS 18.15
-27.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₹111
$1.07 GHS 11.87
11.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K ₹1.4M
$8,120 GHS 90.4K
84.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ₹1.8M
$9,567 GHS 106.5K
105.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.05 ₹1,788
$40.39 GHS 450
-52.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.45 ₹324
$13.27 GHS 148
-74.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.69 ₹721
$37.57 GHS 418
-79.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.60 ₹1,370
$28.49 GHS 317
-48.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 ₹676
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.44 ₹323
$9.55 GHS 106
-63.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$46.07 ₹4,324
$73.0 GHS 813
-36.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,352 ₹220.8K
$5,434 GHS 60.5K
-56.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.31 ₹3,127
$14.83 GHS 165
124.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.80 ₹2,704
$18.50 GHS 206
55.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.18 ₹4,334
$29.17 GHS 325
58.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.10 ₹2,731
$41.16 GHS 458
-29.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$94.6 ₹8,878
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$58.3 ₹5,467
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 ₹20.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₹13.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$955 ₹89.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$515 ₹48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shimla
Kumasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$577 ₹54.1K
$313 GHS 3,479
84.54%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $95 in Shimla versus $0 in Kumasi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 85% 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 in Shimla versus $33 in Kumasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $155 – 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 Kumasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $337 in Shimla, $434 in Kumasi – roughly 29% 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 $506 per month in Shimla and $651 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 55% 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 $33.00 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 vs Kumasi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $337 in Shimla and $434 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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