Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Cape Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Cape Coast

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $629 per month in Tema vs $778 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,006 per month in Tema vs $1,292 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,383 per month in Tema vs $1,805 in Cape Coast, rent included.

Tema is about 19% cheaper than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Tema 53% lower, Cape Coast 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 GHS 88.5

$4.34 GHS 50.7

74.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.14 GHS 329

$48.16 GHS 563

-41.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 GHS 91.5

$7.64 GHS 89.2

2.49%

Cappuccino

$1.49 GHS 17.45

$3.42 GHS 39.92

-56.43%

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

$1.01 GHS 11.76

$0.93 GHS 10.83

8.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 GHS 3.88

$0.35 GHS 4.04

-5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 GHS 20.41

$1.53 GHS 17.83

14.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 GHS 31.06

$2.58 GHS 30.17

3.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 GHS 34.39

$3.39 GHS 39.59

-13.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 GHS 19.58

$1.45 GHS 16.93

15.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 GHS 18.29

$2.35 GHS 27.42

-33.19%

Eggs

$2.18 GHS 25.42

$2.30 GHS 26.85

-5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 GHS 44.22

$11.18 GHS 131

-66.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.72 GHS 31.76

$4.53 GHS 52.9

-39.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.48 GHS 28.92

$5.91 GHS 69.0

-58.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 GHS 31.88

$2.91 GHS 34.01

-6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 GHS 23.27

$1.39 GHS 16.24

43.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 GHS 23.61

$1.65 GHS 19.31

22.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 GHS 32.66

$3.06 GHS 35.76

-8.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 GHS 22.20

$2.99 GHS 34.87

-36.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 GHS 22.19

$2.45 GHS 28.64

-22.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 GHS 7.40

$0.76 GHS 8.83

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 GHS 9.69

$0.49 GHS 5.72

69.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.63 GHS 19.06

Wine (Bottle)

$7.05 GHS 82.3

$7.25 GHS 84.7

-2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 GHS 9.66

$1.12 GHS 13.12

-25.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 GHS 22.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 GHS 24.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.71 GHS 452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 GHS 15.87

$1.60 GHS 18.65

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 GHS 8.45

$1.18 GHS 13.76

-38.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.51 GHS 64.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 GHS 14.35

$1.09 GHS 12.69

12.84%

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

$7,860 GHS 91.8K

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

$9,759 GHS 114.0K

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

$30.27 GHS 354

$56.5 GHS 660

-46.42%

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

$12.18 GHS 142

$13.06 GHS 153

-6.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 GHS 740

$37.30 GHS 436

69.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.37 GHS 226

Cinema Ticket

$9.47 GHS 111

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

$83.9 GHS 980

$72.9 GHS 851

15.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,144 GHS 95.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.15 GHS 282

$14.44 GHS 169

67.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 GHS 293

$18.98 GHS 222

32.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.15 GHS 527

$29.56 GHS 345

52.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.5 GHS 730

$40.74 GHS 476

53.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 GHS 1,384

$710 GHS 8,298

-83.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 GHS 783

$263 GHS 3,074

-74.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 GHS 16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GHS 1,589

$551 GHS 6,434

-75.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,781 GHS 114.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,837 GHS 68.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 GHS 4,681

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 27, 2026

Last update for Cape Coast: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Tema versus $710 in Cape Coast. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema versus $48.00 in Cape Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $232 – 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 Cape Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cape Coast is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $943 per month in Tema and $1,167 in Cape Coast. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $629 in Tema and $778 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $83.9 per month in Tema and $72.9 in Cape Coast. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Cape Coast at $778. In Tema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Coast 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, Cape Coast makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.