Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamale and Accra Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamale and Accra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $146 per month in Tamale vs $1,094 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $220 per month in Tamale vs $1,741 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $294 per month in Tamale vs $2,388 in Accra, rent included.

Tamale is about 87% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tamale and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Tamale 89% lower, Accra 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62 GHS 40.67
$8.04 GHS 90.5
-54.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$54.2 GHS 609
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 GHS 122
$10.76 GHS 121
1.02%
Cappuccino
-
$4.47 GHS 50.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 GHS 9.67
$1.63 GHS 18.37
-47.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 GHS 4.71
$0.49 GHS 5.47
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.91 GHS 10.18
$1.84 GHS 20.74
-50.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 GHS 15.17
$2.37 GHS 26.69
-43.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.09 GHS 34.82
$3.71 GHS 41.78
-16.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 GHS 19.15
$1.72 GHS 19.36
-1.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 GHS 43.17
$3.13 GHS 35.19
22.68%
Eggs
-
$2.69 GHS 30.23
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$12.30 GHS 138
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.43 GHS 83.6
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.93 GHS 112
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.79 GHS 42.64
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.47 GHS 16.56
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.82 GHS 20.49
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$3.68 GHS 41.41
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.80 GHS 31.52
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.74 GHS 30.82
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.76 GHS 8.59
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.61 GHS 6.90
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.70 GHS 30.37
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.38 GHS 83.1
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 GHS 14.78
$1.26 GHS 14.12
3.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.43 GHS 27.35
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tamale
Accra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 GHS 10.15
$1.59 GHS 17.87
-43.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.38 GHS 466
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.79 GHS 20.19
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.31 GHS 14.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.47 GHS 50.3
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.39 GHS 15.60
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$7,977 GHS 89.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$10.3K GHS 115.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$74.7 GHS 840
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$19.81 GHS 223
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$44.54 GHS 501
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$72.1 GHS 811
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.03 GHS 214
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.47 GHS 151
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$463 GHS 5,210
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,010 GHS 101.4K
$18.9K GHS 212.7K
-52.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$14.82 GHS 167
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$18.92 GHS 213
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$36.59 GHS 412
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$54.9 GHS 617
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tamale
Accra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$685 GHS 7,706
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$286 GHS 3,217
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,121 GHS 12.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$474 GHS 5,332
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,867 GHS 32.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,429 GHS 16.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tamale
Accra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$181 GHS 2,039
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
26.75
-

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

Last update for Tamale: August 29, 2026

Last update for Accra: August 31, 2026

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
Tamale vs Accra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tamale and in Accra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $146 in Tamale, $1,094 in Accra – roughly 651% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tamale compared to Accra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $218 per month in Tamale and $1,640 in Accra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tamale or Accra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $146 in Tamale and $1,094 in Accra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 308% more in Accra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamale, where all-in costs run around $146, than in Accra at $1,094. In Tamale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Tamale or Accra?
Families tend to lean toward Tamale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Tamale and Accra?
If budget matters most, go with Tamale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Accra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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