🙂A single person spends $626 per month in Tema vs $804 in Cape Coast, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,005 per month in Tema vs $1,336 in Cape Coast, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,384 per month in Tema vs $1,869 in Cape Coast, rent included.
🙂Tema is about 22% cheaper than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tema and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Tema53% lower, Cape Coast40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.24GHS 80.8
$4.43GHS 49.45
63.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.52GHS 307
$46.85GHS 523
-41.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09GHS 90.3
$7.93GHS 88.5
2.02%
Cappuccino
$1.50GHS 16.76
$3.43GHS 38.33
-56.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99GHS 11.07
$0.95GHS 10.56
4.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33GHS 3.69
$0.38GHS 4.22
-13.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74GHS 19.44
$1.50GHS 16.70
16.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67GHS 29.76
$2.53GHS 28.18
5.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.07GHS 34.23
$3.48GHS 38.78
-11.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62GHS 18.04
$1.49GHS 16.63
8.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49GHS 16.64
$2.47GHS 27.52
-39.68%
Eggs
$2.15GHS 24.00
$2.31GHS 25.76
-6.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.71GHS 41.37
$11.35GHS 127
-67.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.72GHS 30.41
$4.74GHS 52.9
-42.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.50GHS 27.87
$5.94GHS 66.3
-57.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81GHS 31.36
$3.00GHS 33.51
-6.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06GHS 23.02
$1.46GHS 16.29
41.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09GHS 23.37
$1.71GHS 19.12
22.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80GHS 31.29
$3.06GHS 34.17
-8.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90GHS 21.24
$3.12GHS 34.79
-39.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92GHS 21.39
$2.42GHS 26.99
-20.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64GHS 7.09
$0.74GHS 8.28
-13.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82GHS 9.15
$0.52GHS 5.77
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.62GHS 18.10
-
Wine(Bottle)
$8.54GHS 95.3
$6.26GHS 69.9
36.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84GHS 9.39
$1.12GHS 12.50
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95GHS 21.76
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02GHS 22.57
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.63GHS 431
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35GHS 15.09
$1.55GHS 17.28
-12.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77GHS 8.55
$1.22GHS 13.67
-36.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.41GHS 60.4
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25GHS 13.91
$1.13GHS 12.62
10.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$8,134GHS 90.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$9,618GHS 107.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.51GHS 341
$56.5GHS 630
-45.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.08GHS 135
$13.19GHS 147
-8.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.9GHS 725
$37.57GHS 419
72.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.31GHS 215
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.52GHS 106
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.6GHS 922
$73.8GHS 823
12.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,013GHS 89.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.03GHS 279
$14.59GHS 163
71.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84GHS 277
$18.80GHS 210
32.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.69GHS 499
$28.62GHS 319
56.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5GHS 687
$41.38GHS 462
48.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$119GHS 1,324
$699GHS 7,804
-83.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.7GHS 744
$264GHS 2,945
-74.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,417GHS 15.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135GHS 1,510
$539GHS 6,014
-74.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.2KGHS 113.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,068GHS 67.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$463GHS 5,172
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Cape Coast: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Tema versus $699 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 $47.00 in Cape Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $236 – 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
Is Cape Coast cheaper than Tema?
Yes – Cape Coast is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $939 per month in Tema and $1,205 in Cape Coast. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Tema vs Cape Coast?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $626 in Tema and $804 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $82.6 per month in Tema and $73.8 in Cape Coast. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Tema or Cape Coast?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $626, than in Cape Coast at $804. In Tema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Coast it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tema or Cape Coast more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.