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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in Tema vs $680 in Elmina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Tema vs $1,160 in Elmina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,673 per month in Tema vs $1,640 in Elmina, rent included.

Tema costs about 14% more than Elmina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Elmina are more affordable than the global median – Tema 44% lower, Elmina 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 GHS 81.0

$8.14 GHS 92.0

-11.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.28 GHS 320

$53.4 GHS 604

-47.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 GHS 122

Cappuccino

$5.21 GHS 58.9

$4.72 GHS 53.3

10.38%

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

$0.92 GHS 10.34

$1.65 GHS 18.66

-44.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 GHS 3.52

$0.49 GHS 5.48

-36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 GHS 38.62

$1.86 GHS 21.01

83.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 GHS 30.68

$2.27 GHS 25.65

19.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.40 GHS 38.44

$3.81 GHS 43.11

-10.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 GHS 18.69

$1.80 GHS 20.34

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 GHS 23.99

$3.14 GHS 35.48

-32.48%

Eggs

$2.44 GHS 27.57

$2.71 GHS 30.61

-9.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 GHS 51.1

$12.56 GHS 142

-64.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 GHS 37.35

$7.49 GHS 84.6

-55.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.49 GHS 39.39

$10.26 GHS 116

-65.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 GHS 29.38

$3.77 GHS 42.55

-31.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 GHS 25.42

$1.47 GHS 16.63

53.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 GHS 25.26

$1.86 GHS 21.06

20.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 GHS 40.57

$3.75 GHS 42.42

-4.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 GHS 40.93

$2.81 GHS 31.80

28.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 GHS 33.05

$2.73 GHS 30.84

7.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 GHS 4.79

$0.78 GHS 8.78

-46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 GHS 8.37

$0.62 GHS 6.95

19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 GHS 14.76

$2.59 GHS 29.23

-49.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 GHS 99.1

$7.16 GHS 80.9

22.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 GHS 25.78

$1.32 GHS 14.93

72.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 GHS 36.01

$2.46 GHS 27.75

29.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 GHS 19.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.36 GHS 490

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 GHS 25.57

$1.73 GHS 19.53

30.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 GHS 4.78

$1.29 GHS 14.59

-67.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 GHS 49.50

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 GHS 13.16

$1.39 GHS 15.73

-15.83%

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

$8,005 GHS 90.5K

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

$10.3K GHS 116.0K

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

$80.8 GHS 913

$74.0 GHS 836

9.21%

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

$15.84 GHS 179

$19.52 GHS 221

-18.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.2 GHS 963

$43.23 GHS 489

97.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.86 GHS 281

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 GHS 100

$13.10 GHS 148

-32.37%

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

$177 GHS 2,005

$468 GHS 5,294

-62.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,686 GHS 30.4K

$18.5K GHS 208.8K

-85.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.47 GHS 152

$14.64 GHS 165

-7.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.06 GHS 181

$19.45 GHS 220

-17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.07 GHS 498

$37.21 GHS 420

18.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.93 GHS 372

$55.0 GHS 621

-40.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 GHS 1,531

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.4 GHS 829

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 GHS 4,988

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 GHS 2,471

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,991 GHS 112.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,102 GHS 69.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 GHS 4,847

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Elmina: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema versus $53.0 in Elmina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $290 – 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 14%, 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 $1,160 per month in Tema and $1,021 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 $53.0 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 $773 in Tema and $680 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.