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 $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 – Tema 53% lower, Cape Coast 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.24 GHS 80.8
$4.43 GHS 49.45
63.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.52 GHS 307
$46.85 GHS 523
-41.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.09 GHS 90.3
$7.93 GHS 88.5
2.02%
Cappuccino
$1.50 GHS 16.76
$3.43 GHS 38.33
-56.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 GHS 11.07
$0.95 GHS 10.56
4.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 GHS 3.69
$0.38 GHS 4.22
-13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 GHS 19.44
$1.50 GHS 16.70
16.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 GHS 29.76
$2.53 GHS 28.18
5.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.07 GHS 34.23
$3.48 GHS 38.78
-11.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 GHS 18.04
$1.49 GHS 16.63
8.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 GHS 16.64
$2.47 GHS 27.52
-39.68%
Eggs
$2.15 GHS 24.00
$2.31 GHS 25.76
-6.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.71 GHS 41.37
$11.35 GHS 127
-67.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.72 GHS 30.41
$4.74 GHS 52.9
-42.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.50 GHS 27.87
$5.94 GHS 66.3
-57.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 GHS 31.36
$3.00 GHS 33.51
-6.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 GHS 23.02
$1.46 GHS 16.29
41.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 GHS 23.37
$1.71 GHS 19.12
22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 GHS 31.29
$3.06 GHS 34.17
-8.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 GHS 21.24
$3.12 GHS 34.79
-39.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 GHS 21.39
$2.42 GHS 26.99
-20.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 GHS 7.09
$0.74 GHS 8.28
-13.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 GHS 9.15
$0.52 GHS 5.77
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.62 GHS 18.10
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 GHS 95.3
$6.26 GHS 69.9
36.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 GHS 9.39
$1.12 GHS 12.50
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95 GHS 21.76
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 GHS 22.57
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.63 GHS 431
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 GHS 15.09
$1.55 GHS 17.28
-12.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 GHS 8.55
$1.22 GHS 13.67
-36.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.41 GHS 60.4
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 GHS 13.91
$1.13 GHS 12.62
10.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$8,134 GHS 90.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$9,618 GHS 107.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.51 GHS 341
$56.5 GHS 630
-45.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.08 GHS 135
$13.19 GHS 147
-8.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.9 GHS 725
$37.57 GHS 419
72.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.31 GHS 215
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.52 GHS 106
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$82.6 GHS 922
$73.8 GHS 823
12.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$8,013 GHS 89.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.03 GHS 279
$14.59 GHS 163
71.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84 GHS 277
$18.80 GHS 210
32.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.69 GHS 499
$28.62 GHS 319
56.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5 GHS 687
$41.38 GHS 462
48.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$119 GHS 1,324
$699 GHS 7,804
-83.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.7 GHS 744
$264 GHS 2,945
-74.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,417 GHS 15.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 GHS 1,510
$539 GHS 6,014
-74.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K GHS 113.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,068 GHS 67.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Cape Coast
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$463 GHS 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.

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