Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Accra Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Accra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $624 per month in Tema vs $746 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $995 per month in Tema vs $1,304 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,365 per month in Tema vs $1,862 in Accra, rent included.

Tema is about 16% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Tema 53% lower, Accra 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 GHS 83.0

$4.34 GHS 50.2

65.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 GHS 321

$48.15 GHS 556

-42.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 GHS 90.3

$7.70 GHS 89.0

1.56%

Cappuccino

$1.46 GHS 16.84

$3.50 GHS 40.43

-58.29%

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

$1.04 GHS 12.05

$1.00 GHS 11.55

4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 GHS 3.57

$0.35 GHS 3.98

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 GHS 20.04

$1.53 GHS 17.62

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 GHS 30.81

$2.56 GHS 29.56

4.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 GHS 35.25

$3.37 GHS 38.94

-9.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 GHS 18.66

$1.46 GHS 16.84

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 GHS 18.06

$2.47 GHS 28.49

-36.84%

Eggs

$2.19 GHS 25.24

$2.27 GHS 26.20

-3.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.66 GHS 42.30

$11.22 GHS 130

-67.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 GHS 30.46

$4.54 GHS 52.5

-41.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.41 GHS 27.83

$5.87 GHS 67.8

-58.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 GHS 32.68

$2.90 GHS 33.47

-2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 GHS 23.38

$1.46 GHS 16.86

38.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 GHS 24.13

$1.71 GHS 19.80

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 GHS 32.98

$3.17 GHS 36.62

-9.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 GHS 20.99

$2.98 GHS 34.39

-38.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 GHS 22.93

$2.46 GHS 28.40

-19.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 GHS 7.39

$0.76 GHS 8.80

-15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 GHS 10.13

$0.48 GHS 5.54

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 GHS 18.28

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 GHS 81.3

$7.30 GHS 84.4

-3.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 GHS 10.11

$1.16 GHS 13.38

-24.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 GHS 22.68

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 GHS 24.28

$1.05 GHS 12.10

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.03 GHS 462

$35.17 GHS 406

13.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 GHS 15.76

$1.54 GHS 17.76

-11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 GHS 8.76

$1.17 GHS 13.47

-35.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 GHS 62.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 GHS 13.81

$1.13 GHS 13.00

6.19%

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

$8,009 GHS 92.5K

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

$9,480 GHS 109.5K

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

$31.32 GHS 362

$55.6 GHS 642

-43.69%

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

$12.42 GHS 143

$13.03 GHS 150

-4.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 GHS 746

$37.61 GHS 434

71.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.29 GHS 223

$35.17 GHS 406

-45.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.03 GHS 185

Cinema Ticket

$9.74 GHS 112

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

$83.0 GHS 958

$72.2 GHS 834

14.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,959 GHS 91.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.46 GHS 282

$14.51 GHS 168

68.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.21 GHS 280

$18.82 GHS 217

28.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.56 GHS 526

$28.88 GHS 334

57.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 GHS 714

$40.84 GHS 472

51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 GHS 1,364

$530 GHS 6,119

-77.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 GHS 760

$147 GHS 1,700

-55.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 GHS 12.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GHS 1,575

$378 GHS 4,369

-63.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,960 GHS 115.0K

$2,797 GHS 32.3K

256.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,047 GHS 69.8K

$1,469 GHS 17.0K

311.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 GHS 4,777

$180 GHS 2,083

129.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

32.5

25.4

27.95%

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

Last update for Tema: July 13, 2026

Last update for Accra: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Tema versus $530 in Accra. 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 129% higher in Tema, 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 $28.00 in Tema versus $48.00 in Accra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $234 – making Tema 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

Tema vs Accra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $624 in Tema, $746 in Accra – roughly 20% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $937 per month in Tema and $1,119 in Accra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tema, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Accra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema and $48.00 in Accra. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $624, than in Accra at $746. In Tema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tema – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Tema. 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.