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 $608 per month in Tema vs $797 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $984 per month in Tema vs $1,331 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Tema vs $1,864 in Cape Coast, rent included.

Tema is about 24% cheaper than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Tema 55% lower, Cape Coast 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.23 GHS 79.5

$4.40 GHS 48.39

64.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.52 GHS 303

$47.49 GHS 522

-42.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 GHS 85.7

$8.00 GHS 88.0

-2.62%

Cappuccino

$1.52 GHS 16.70

$3.51 GHS 38.59

-56.70%

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

$1.03 GHS 11.37

$1.00 GHS 11.02

3.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 GHS 3.40

$0.35 GHS 3.80

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 GHS 18.85

$1.58 GHS 17.38

8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 GHS 29.35

$2.57 GHS 28.31

3.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 GHS 33.53

$3.47 GHS 38.21

-12.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 GHS 18.14

$1.45 GHS 15.93

13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 GHS 16.45

$2.35 GHS 25.86

-36.17%

Eggs

$2.17 GHS 23.89

$2.27 GHS 24.97

-4.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.60 GHS 39.57

$11.32 GHS 125

-68.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 GHS 29.03

$4.55 GHS 50.0

-41.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.44 GHS 26.89

$5.79 GHS 63.7

-57.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 GHS 30.65

$3.04 GHS 33.43

-8.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 GHS 21.89

$1.45 GHS 15.92

37.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 GHS 22.81

$1.64 GHS 18.02

26.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 GHS 32.39

$3.13 GHS 34.45

-6.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 GHS 19.83

$2.97 GHS 32.69

-39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 GHS 21.81

$2.46 GHS 27.05

-19.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 GHS 6.63

$0.77 GHS 8.43

-22.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 GHS 9.12

$0.48 GHS 5.31

72.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.60 GHS 17.59

Wine (Bottle)

$6.88 GHS 75.7

$7.21 GHS 79.3

-4.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 GHS 9.58

$1.15 GHS 12.68

-24.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 GHS 21.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.00 GHS 22.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.98 GHS 440

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 GHS 15.57

$1.54 GHS 16.92

-7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 GHS 7.92

$1.17 GHS 12.89

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.67 GHS 62.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 GHS 13.46

$1.08 GHS 11.92

12.96%

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

$7,855 GHS 86.4K

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

$9,506 GHS 104.6K

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

$30.56 GHS 336

$55.5 GHS 610

-44.93%

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

$12.40 GHS 136

$13.15 GHS 145

-5.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.9 GHS 703

$38.01 GHS 418

68.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.29 GHS 212

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 GHS 107

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

$83.0 GHS 913

$73.5 GHS 809

12.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,193 GHS 90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.85 GHS 273

$14.40 GHS 158

72.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 GHS 276

$18.72 GHS 206

33.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 GHS 502

$29.19 GHS 321

56.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.2 GHS 684

$40.77 GHS 448

52.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 GHS 1,282

$691 GHS 7,603

-83.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.2 GHS 728

$258 GHS 2,841

-74.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 GHS 15.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$137 GHS 1,506

$551 GHS 6,059

-75.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,866 GHS 108.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,964 GHS 65.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 GHS 4,531

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Cape Coast: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Tema versus $691 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: $182 vs $235 – 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 31%, 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 $912 per month in Tema and $1,196 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 $608 in Tema and $797 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $83.0 per month in Tema and $73.5 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 $608, than in Cape Coast at $797. 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.