Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Elmina Cost of Living Comparison Between Tema and Elmina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $624 per month in Tema vs $526 in Elmina, rent included.

A couple spends around $995 per month in Tema vs $905 in Elmina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,365 per month in Tema vs $1,284 in Elmina, rent included.

Tema costs about 19% more than Elmina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Elmina are more affordable than the global median – Tema 53% lower, Elmina 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 GHS 83.0

$4.45 GHS 51.4

61.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 GHS 321

$48.28 GHS 558

-42.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 GHS 90.3

$7.79 GHS 90.0

0.39%

Cappuccino

$1.46 GHS 16.84

$3.54 GHS 40.94

-58.76%

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

$1.04 GHS 12.05

$0.92 GHS 10.68

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 GHS 3.57

$0.34 GHS 3.96

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 GHS 20.04

$1.58 GHS 18.20

10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 GHS 30.81

$2.48 GHS 28.60

7.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 GHS 35.25

$3.47 GHS 40.09

-12.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 GHS 18.66

$1.45 GHS 16.80

11.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 GHS 18.06

$2.37 GHS 27.33

-34.18%

Eggs

$2.19 GHS 25.24

$2.40 GHS 27.70

-8.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.66 GHS 42.30

$11.04 GHS 128

-66.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 GHS 30.46

$4.54 GHS 52.4

-41.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.41 GHS 27.83

$5.82 GHS 67.2

-58.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 GHS 32.68

$2.91 GHS 33.62

-2.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 GHS 23.38

$1.40 GHS 16.13

44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 GHS 24.13

$1.71 GHS 19.69

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 GHS 32.98

$3.21 GHS 37.02

-10.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 GHS 20.99

$3.00 GHS 34.64

-39.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 GHS 22.93

$2.44 GHS 28.15

-18.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 GHS 7.39

$0.75 GHS 8.69

-14.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 GHS 10.13

$0.49 GHS 5.61

79.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 GHS 19.05

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 GHS 81.3

$7.42 GHS 85.8

-5.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 GHS 10.11

$1.11 GHS 12.85

-20.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 GHS 22.64

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 GHS 24.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.03 GHS 462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 GHS 15.76

$1.62 GHS 18.65

-16.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 GHS 8.76

$1.17 GHS 13.54

-35.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 GHS 63.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 GHS 13.81

$1.09 GHS 12.59

10.09%

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

$8,156 GHS 94.2K

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

$9,546 GHS 110.3K

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

$31.32 GHS 362

$56.5 GHS 652

-44.52%

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

$12.42 GHS 143

$13.33 GHS 154

-6.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 GHS 746

$38.32 GHS 443

68.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.29 GHS 223

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 GHS 115

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

$83.0 GHS 958

$71.4 GHS 825

16.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,919 GHS 91.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.46 GHS 282

$14.66 GHS 169

66.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.21 GHS 280

$19.23 GHS 222

25.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.56 GHS 526

$28.80 GHS 333

58.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 GHS 714

$41.81 GHS 483

47.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 GHS 1,364

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 GHS 760

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GHS 1,575

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,960 GHS 115.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,047 GHS 69.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 GHS 4,777

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 13, 2026

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema versus $48.00 in Elmina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $234 – 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 Elmina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tema is pricier by about 19%, 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 $937 per month in Tema and $789 in Elmina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema and $48.00 in Elmina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Tema – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $624 in Tema and $526 in Elmina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Elmina – 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 Elmina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tema makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.