Moving to Ghana from China

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from China to Ghana — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from China to Ghana, you would find that Ghana is 16.4% more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,140 salary in China would need to be roughly GHS711,828 in Ghana to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Accra averages 88°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from China to Ghana.

What does your salary buy?

CN¥508,140 GHS711,828

To maintain the same standard of living in Ghana

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 56.6% more

Groceries

pay 66.6% more

Transportation

pay 30.6% more

Housing

pay 76.8% more

Childcare

pay 69.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CNY = 1.7 GHS (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Ghana

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from China to Ghana, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
266 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in China live in Ghana · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ghana?

Top countries of origin for Ghana's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How China and Ghana stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
GH
1.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CN
91%
GH
83%

China performs better than Ghana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CN
$1,487
GH
$234
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
GH
1.4

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ghana leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CN
64.0
GH
89.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
GH
0.7t

China generally does better on environment, though Ghana leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
41.4
GH
0.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
GH
6.3%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Ghana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
GH
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
GH
$6,700

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Ghana leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
GH
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
GH
32.6

China generally does better on family life, though Ghana leads in education spending.

Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Accra Rain: 29.2 in/yr (741 mm)
88° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Accra
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 91°/76°F (33°/25°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 89°/75°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Accra
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Ghana Meteorological Agency Ghana Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and Ghana. To live, work, or study long-term in Ghana, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ghana's immigration authority.

China passport

China passport holder visiting Ghana

Visa Required
China passport holders need a visa to enter Ghana.
Ghana passport

Ghana passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
Ghana passport holders need a visa to enter China.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Ghana than China?

Generally yes: Ghana runs about 18% cheaper than China on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Ghana?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a CN¥508,140 comparable salary, that's around GHS177,957 in Ghana for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ghana?

With 0.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ghana can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in China and Ghana.

Is Ghana safe for expats?

China performs better than Ghana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ghana is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 83% of people in Ghana feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Ghana compared to China?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ghana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Ghana, compared to 25.2 in China. Ghana scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

What's the weather like in Ghana compared to China?

The average high temperature in Accra is 88°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Accra receives around 29.2 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Ghana?

The official language in Ghana is English. In China, the official language is Chinese.

Share this

At a Glance

CN GH
Population 1,410,539,758 33,107,275
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)
Languages Chinese English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +233
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112