Moving to Canada from Ghana

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ghana to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ghana to Canada, you would find that Canada is 3.1 times more expensive than Ghana overall. A GHS864,429 salary in Ghana would need to be roughly CA$261,129 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 88°F in Accra, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ghana and Canada.

What does your salary buy?

GHS864,429 CA$261,129

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.1 times more

Groceries

pay 50.5% more

Transportation

pay 99.8% more

Housing

pay 4.3 times more

Childcare

pay 4.5 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GHS = 0.1217 CAD (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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Ghana to Canada.

Moved in 2023
1,645 ↑ 33% vs 2022

people moved from Ghana to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Ghana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GH
1.8
CA
2.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

GH
83%
CA
88%

Canada generally does better on safety, though Ghana leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GH
$234
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GH
1.4
CA
25.0

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GH
89.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GH
0.7t
CA
14.0t

Ghana generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GH
0.6
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GH
6.3%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly better than Ghana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GH
3.1%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GH
$6,700
CA
$55,800

Ghana generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GH
69.4 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GH
32.6
CA
4.4

Canada performs significantly better than Ghana across all family life metrics.

Data: Ghana Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Accra Ottawa
Jan–Mar 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Accra Ottawa
Jan 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Ghana Meteorological Agency Ghana Meteorological Agency, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ghana passport

Ghana passport holder visiting Canada

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

Canada passport holder visiting Ghana

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

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 Canada than Ghana?

On average Canada is around 148% pricier than Ghana, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Budget about CA$65,282 for 3 months in Canada (based on a GHS864,429 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Canada?

Connectivity is usually fine (Canada: 42.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Canada offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Canada safe for expats?

Canada generally does better on safety, though Ghana leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Ghana. About 88% of people in Canada feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Ghana?

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 1.4 in Ghana. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ghana: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 88°F in Accra. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Accra gets 29.2 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Ghana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GH CA
Population 33,107,275 38,232,593
Currency Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +233 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 112 911