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 $757 per month in Tema vs $1,285 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,192 per month in Tema vs $2,030 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,627 per month in Tema vs $2,774 in Cape Coast, rent included.

Tema is about 41% cheaper than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Tema 45% lower, Cape Coast 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 GHS 82.2

$8.11 GHS 93.2

-11.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.16 GHS 323

$51.4 GHS 590

-45.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.63 GHS 122

Cappuccino

$5.35 GHS 61.4

$4.42 GHS 50.8

21.04%

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

$0.86 GHS 9.84

$1.57 GHS 18.08

-45.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 GHS 3.49

$0.49 GHS 5.65

-38.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 GHS 37.92

$1.91 GHS 21.92

72.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 GHS 30.08

$2.27 GHS 26.11

15.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.25 GHS 37.28

$3.65 GHS 41.91

-10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 GHS 18.75

$1.69 GHS 19.42

-3.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 GHS 24.07

$3.19 GHS 36.63

-34.17%

Eggs

$2.28 GHS 26.18

$2.62 GHS 30.07

-12.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.46 GHS 51.2

$12.03 GHS 138

-62.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 GHS 36.53

$7.48 GHS 85.8

-57.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.41 GHS 39.14

$10.26 GHS 118

-66.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 GHS 30.32

$3.70 GHS 42.53

-28.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 GHS 25.76

$1.46 GHS 16.77

53.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 GHS 25.18

$1.80 GHS 20.63

21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 GHS 41.02

$3.65 GHS 41.88

-2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 GHS 40.89

$2.79 GHS 32.07

27.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 GHS 33.44

$2.76 GHS 31.70

5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 GHS 5.26

$0.77 GHS 8.79

-40.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 GHS 8.22

$0.61 GHS 6.99

18.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.28 GHS 14.75

$2.65 GHS 30.47

-51.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 GHS 101

$7.32 GHS 84.1

20.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 GHS 24.52

$1.25 GHS 14.32

71.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 GHS 34.33

$2.33 GHS 26.75

28.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 GHS 20.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.05 GHS 483

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 GHS 25.19

$1.77 GHS 20.34

23.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 GHS 5.26

$1.29 GHS 14.76

-64.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 GHS 50.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 GHS 13.20

$1.37 GHS 15.77

-16.06%

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

$8,011 GHS 92.0K

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

$9,945 GHS 114.2K

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

$77.3 GHS 887

$73.0 GHS 838

5.93%

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

$15.28 GHS 175

$19.74 GHS 227

-22.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 GHS 964

$42.66 GHS 490

96.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.06 GHS 276

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 GHS 102

$13.14 GHS 151

-32.34%

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

$177 GHS 2,031

$471 GHS 5,412

-62.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,608 GHS 29.9K

$18.4K GHS 211.1K

-85.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.20 GHS 152

$14.31 GHS 164

-7.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.86 GHS 182

$18.71 GHS 215

-15.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.09 GHS 506

$37.41 GHS 429

17.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.67 GHS 375

$54.1 GHS 621

-39.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 GHS 1,493

$623 GHS 7,155

-79.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.8 GHS 836

$584 GHS 6,700

-87.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 GHS 4,917

$1,261 GHS 14.5K

-66.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 GHS 2,501

$1,111 GHS 12.8K

-80.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,958 GHS 114.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,932 GHS 68.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 GHS 4,935

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cape Coast: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Tema versus $623 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 $51.0 in Cape Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $283 – 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 70%, 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 $1,135 per month in Tema and $1,928 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 $757 in Tema and $1,285 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $177 per month in Tema and $471 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 $757, than in Cape Coast at $1,285. 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.