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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $611 per month in Tema vs $532 in Elmina, rent included.

A couple spends around $989 per month in Tema vs $903 in Elmina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,367 per month in Tema vs $1,274 in Elmina, rent included.

Tema costs about 15% more than Elmina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Elmina are more affordable than the global median – Tema 54% lower, Elmina 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 GHS 88.0

$4.31 GHS 50.7

74.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 GHS 326

$47.20 GHS 554

-41.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 GHS 96.0

$7.91 GHS 92.9

3.41%

Cappuccino

$1.46 GHS 17.14

$3.49 GHS 40.97

-58.17%

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

$1.00 GHS 11.78

$0.93 GHS 10.87

7.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 GHS 3.93

$0.34 GHS 4.05

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 GHS 20.38

$1.56 GHS 18.37

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 GHS 31.63

$2.56 GHS 30.01

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 GHS 34.94

$3.45 GHS 40.52

-13.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 GHS 19.69

$1.43 GHS 16.81

17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 GHS 18.22

$2.35 GHS 27.59

-34.04%

Eggs

$2.18 GHS 25.64

$2.30 GHS 26.98

-5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.72 GHS 43.73

$11.32 GHS 133

-67.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.73 GHS 32.08

$4.79 GHS 56.2

-43.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.44 GHS 28.63

$6.00 GHS 70.5

-59.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 GHS 31.76

$2.89 GHS 33.93

-6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 GHS 24.38

$1.43 GHS 16.81

45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 GHS 24.27

$1.69 GHS 19.83

22.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 GHS 33.97

$3.19 GHS 37.48

-9.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 GHS 21.60

$3.10 GHS 36.34

-40.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 GHS 23.15

$2.43 GHS 28.55

-18.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 GHS 7.16

$0.77 GHS 9.00

-20.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 GHS 9.63

$0.51 GHS 6.03

60.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 GHS 18.62

Wine (Bottle)

$7.21 GHS 84.7

$7.05 GHS 82.8

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 GHS 9.66

$1.12 GHS 13.16

-26.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 GHS 22.68

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 GHS 23.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.80 GHS 467

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 GHS 16.64

$1.55 GHS 18.18

-8.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 GHS 9.00

$1.21 GHS 14.18

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.40 GHS 63.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 GHS 13.98

$1.07 GHS 12.59

11.21%

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

$7,843 GHS 92.1K

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

$9,458 GHS 111.0K

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

$30.84 GHS 362

$54.7 GHS 642

-43.57%

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

$12.26 GHS 144

$13.44 GHS 158

-8.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 GHS 759

$37.50 GHS 440

72.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.37 GHS 227

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 GHS 114

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

$82.4 GHS 967

$73.4 GHS 861

12.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,040 GHS 94.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.07 GHS 294

$14.53 GHS 171

72.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.67 GHS 290

$18.52 GHS 217

33.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.82 GHS 538

$29.62 GHS 348

54.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.6 GHS 712

$40.75 GHS 478

48.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 GHS 1,371

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.6 GHS 782

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 GHS 1,629

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K GHS 117.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,030 GHS 70.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$390 GHS 4,576

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Elmina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tema versus $47.00 in Elmina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 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 Elmina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tema is pricier by about 15%, 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 $916 per month in Tema and $798 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 $47.00 in Elmina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 29% 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 $611 in Tema and $532 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.