Moving to Japan from Ghana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ghana to Japan, you would find that Japan is 92.9% more expensive than Ghana overall. A GHS802,778 salary in Ghana would need to be roughly ¥20,671,458 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 88°F in Accra, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

GHS802,778 ¥20,671,458

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 42.8% more

Groceries

pay 39.3% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 2.1 times more

Childcare

pay 2.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 78.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GHS = 14.88 JPY (June 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 Japan.

Moved in 2023
363 ↑ 41% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Ghana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GH
1.8
JP
0.2
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

GH
83%
JP
83%

Japan performs significantly better than Ghana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GH
$234
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GH
1.4
JP
26.1

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GH
0.7t
JP
7.8t

Ghana generally does better on environment, though Japan 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
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GH
6.3%
JP
36.0%

Japan 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

GH
3.1%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GH
$6,700
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Ghana leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GH
69.4 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GH
32.6
JP
1.9

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

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

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Accra Tokyo
Jan–Mar 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Accra Tokyo
Jan 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Ghana Meteorological Agency Ghana Meteorological Agency, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ghana passport

Ghana passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Ghana

Visa Required
Japan 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 Japan than Ghana?

On average Japan is around 73% pricier than Ghana, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Budget about ¥5,167,864 for 3 months in Japan (based on a GHS802,778 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Japan: 37.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Japan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Ghana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Ghana. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Ghana?

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 1.4 in Ghana. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ghana: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 88°F in Accra. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Accra gets 29.2 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Ghana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GH JP
Population 33,107,275 124,214,766
Currency Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages English Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +233 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110