Ghana : Cost of Living by City
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Ghana?
Ghana is probably one of the countries that come up to your mind when you think about South Africa.
In recent years, Ghana has become a popular tourist destination.
It has a high level of hospitality and natural heritage.
This country is fairly safe to live in, but the level of life is very low and unstable.
Most of the citizens work in agriculture growing cereals, livestock, or producing cocoa.
There is an Internet connection but most of the villagers do not even have phones.
Interestingly, Ghana is a Christianized country which makes it different from the rest of the South African countries.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Ghana
RESTAURANTS
The best restaurants in Ghana can be found in large cities like Aссra.
A great variety of foods is served in the restaurants that are located in the hotels or in the popular tourist districts.
Most of the restaurants in Ghana offer international cuisines, while the less popular eateries offer classical meals.
Of course, you can have hamburgers, pizza, and fast food.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $2.92 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $0.67 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.18 |
MARKETS
Many tourists call Ghana a huge market with a few houses where people live.
The cities and villages have central markets which are very colorful and noisy.
They sell avocados, bananas, apples, plums, and pineapples at very low prices.
You will not see the stalls or logical rows there, just boxes and dishes full of products for sale.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.38 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.86 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.30 |
TRANSPORTATION
Ghana has 12 airports but the air connection is ill-developed.
The greatest popularity is given to minibusses and bush taxis.
The buses are always full and you can smoke on the bus, so this means of transport is not so convenient for some categories of people.
Not all of the cities in Ghana have motorways so lorries are used to drive off the beaten path.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.42 |
| Monthly Pass | $19.50 |
| Gasoline | $0.80 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Monthly utility bills for electricity, water, cooling, and garbage seem too low to a European citizen with an average salary of a few thousand dollars.
In Ghana, this sum of money of $76 is high.
Mobile phones are not so rare here, and the price is $0.04 per minute for about two million subscribers.
The Internet is fast in hotels and private Internet cafes.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $27.61 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.04 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $37.78 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
The passion for football runs in the blood of every small and young boy in Ghana.
This love goes far beyond the ages and cultures.
Golf clubs, horse riding, polo, and rugby clubs are also open for tourists in large cities.
The other sports are surfing, swimming, aerobics, cycling, and yachting.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $28.01 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $5.42 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.38 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Ghana is well-known for gold, diamonds, oil, and wood producers.
You can go shopping in the largest online store here or visit one of the chain stores like Kiki or Zara.
You should expect to find the best African-style fabrics there so you will start wearing colorful clothes with floral motives and multicolored shoes.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $10.76 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $9.65 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $24.64 |
RENT PER MONTH
The apartments in Ghana are mostly rented by tourists or business travelers.
The prices are absolutely stunning if compared to the minimum wage and the average salary that local Ghana residents receive monthly.
The apartments are fully furnished and ready to get settled down.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $591.01 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $51.05 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1520.84 |
HEALTHCARE
Ghana’s public system includes the National Health Insurance Scheme, with premiums often around 20 to 50 USD per year, but coverage gaps are large, and many services require direct payment.
Out-of-pocket spending is high, and total health expenditure per person is low compared to high-income countries, often under 100 USD per year.
Typical out-of-pocket health costs for medications and clinic visits are several tens to a few hundred dollars annually.
With average monthly incomes of 150 to 200 USD, even modest healthcare costs can impose a heavy financial burden.
EDUCATION
Public schools are tuition-free, though families pay for uniforms, books, and supplies, typically $100 to $400 per year.
Private schools charge $1,000 to $5,000 annually.
Public universities charge tuition of around $500 to $2,000 per year, while private universities can cost $3,000 to $8,000 annually.
Students also pay for housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
The average monthly income is about $250, making higher education and private schooling a significant expense relative to earnings.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Ghana?
An average person in Ghana spends most of his or her income on monthly rent.
The landlords increase prices for accommodation due to the number of visitors that come to do business in Ghana or come here as tourists.
As much as 35.7% of the money is spent on monthly rent but most of the natives here cannot afford to connect to the Internet or buy a mobile phone.
The telephone system in Ghana is old-fashioned and most of the hotels have international telephone lines, while large banks and offices use telephones for calls inside the country.
People spend 4% more on transportation than they do in restaurants.
The percentage of money spent on leisure and sports is very low, not to mention clothing and shoes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Ghana: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The minimum wage set in the country was officially fixed at the level of $58.6.
It highly depends on the region and city, but in general, the salaries are very low.
People work in the agricultural sector where salaries are not too high.
An average salary after tax is $178.48 per month which surely is not enough to meet everyday needs for communication, housing, clothing, and entertainment.
The mortgage interest rate seems impossible if you compare it to any of the European countries like Germany, France, or Switzerland.
The yearly interest rate in percentages makes 24.46%.
Ghana Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Ghana Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | MEDIUM |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | HIGH |
| TAP WATER RISK | HIGH |
Cost of Living by City in Ghana
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Accra |
57.23 |
Do you really think the high level of hospitality can outweigh the low standard of living for most people there?