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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in Tema vs $1,094 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Tema vs $1,741 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,673 per month in Tema vs $2,388 in Accra, rent included.

Tema is about 29% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Tema 44% lower, Accra 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 GHS 81.0

$8.04 GHS 90.9

-10.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.28 GHS 320

$54.2 GHS 612

-47.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 GHS 122

Cappuccino

$5.21 GHS 58.9

$4.47 GHS 50.5

16.55%

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

$0.92 GHS 10.34

$1.63 GHS 18.45

-43.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 GHS 3.52

$0.49 GHS 5.50

-36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 GHS 38.62

$1.84 GHS 20.83

85.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 GHS 30.68

$2.37 GHS 26.81

14.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.40 GHS 38.44

$3.71 GHS 41.97

-8.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 GHS 18.69

$1.72 GHS 19.45

-4.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 GHS 23.99

$3.13 GHS 35.35

-32.27%

Eggs

$2.44 GHS 27.57

$2.69 GHS 30.36

-9.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 GHS 51.1

$12.30 GHS 139

-63.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 GHS 37.35

$7.43 GHS 84.0

-55.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.49 GHS 39.39

$9.93 GHS 112

-64.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 GHS 29.38

$3.79 GHS 42.83

-31.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 GHS 25.42

$1.47 GHS 16.64

53.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 GHS 25.26

$1.82 GHS 20.58

23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 GHS 40.57

$3.68 GHS 41.60

-2.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 GHS 40.93

$2.80 GHS 31.66

29.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 GHS 33.05

$2.74 GHS 30.96

6.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 GHS 4.79

$0.76 GHS 8.63

-44.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 GHS 8.37

$0.61 GHS 6.93

21.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 GHS 14.76

$2.70 GHS 30.50

-51.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 GHS 99.1

$7.38 GHS 83.4

18.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 GHS 25.78

$1.26 GHS 14.19

80.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 GHS 36.01

$2.43 GHS 27.47

31.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 GHS 19.79

$1.59 GHS 17.95

10.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.36 GHS 490

$41.38 GHS 468

4.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 GHS 25.57

$1.79 GHS 20.28

26.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 GHS 4.78

$1.31 GHS 14.84

-67.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 GHS 50.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 GHS 13.16

$1.39 GHS 15.67

-15.83%

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

$7,977 GHS 90.1K

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

$10.3K GHS 115.9K

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

$80.8 GHS 913

$74.7 GHS 844

8.11%

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

$15.84 GHS 179

$19.81 GHS 224

-20.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.2 GHS 963

$44.54 GHS 503

91.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.86 GHS 281

$72.1 GHS 814

-65.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.03 GHS 215

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 GHS 100

$13.47 GHS 152

-34.22%

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

$177 GHS 2,005

$463 GHS 5,233

-61.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,686 GHS 30.4K

$18.9K GHS 213.6K

-85.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.47 GHS 152

$14.82 GHS 167

-9.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.06 GHS 181

$18.92 GHS 214

-15.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.07 GHS 498

$36.59 GHS 413

20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.93 GHS 372

$54.9 GHS 620

-39.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 GHS 1,531

$685 GHS 7,740

-80.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.4 GHS 829

$286 GHS 3,231

-74.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 GHS 4,988

$1,121 GHS 12.7K

-60.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 GHS 2,471

$474 GHS 5,355

-53.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,991 GHS 112.9K

$2,867 GHS 32.4K

248.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,102 GHS 69.0K

$1,429 GHS 16.1K

327.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 GHS 4,847

$181 GHS 2,048

136.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.75

30.84%

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

Last update for Tema: August 30, 2026

Last update for Accra: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $135 in Tema versus $685 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 137% 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 $54.0 in Accra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $285 – 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: $773 in Tema, $1,094 in Accra – roughly 41% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,160 per month in Tema and $1,640 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 27% 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 $54.0 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 $773, than in Accra at $1,094. 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.