Moving to Sweden from Ghana

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ghana to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ghana to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 2.7 times more expensive than Ghana overall. A GHS864,429 salary in Ghana would need to be roughly SEK1,732,239 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 88°F in Accra, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ghana to Sweden.

What does your salary buy?

GHS864,429 SEK1,732,239

To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 3.7 times more

Groceries

pay 53.7% more

Transportation

pay 2.8 times more

Housing

pay 3.1 times more

Childcare

pay 11.9% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GHS = 0.837 SEK (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?

How many people actually move from Ghana to Sweden, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
262 ↑ 27% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Sweden?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ghana to Sweden.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GH
1.8
SE
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

GH
83%
SE
73%

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Ghana leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GH
$234
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GH
1.4
SE
71.5

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden 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
SE
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GH
0.7t
SE
3.6t

Ghana generally does better on environment, though Sweden 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
SE
40.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GH
6.3%
SE
3.6%

Sweden 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%
SE
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GH
$6,700
SE
$64,200

Ghana generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden 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
SE
82.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GH
32.6
SE
2.3

Sweden 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

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Accra Stockholm
Jan–Mar 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Accra Stockholm
Jan 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Ghana Meteorological Agency Ghana Meteorological Agency, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ghana passport

Ghana passport holder visiting Sweden

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

Sweden passport holder visiting Ghana

Visa Required
Sweden 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 Sweden than Ghana?

No — Sweden is on average about 139% more expensive than Ghana. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Sweden?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK433,060 in Sweden on a GHS864,429 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Sweden?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sweden safe for expats?

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Ghana leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Ghana. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Ghana?

Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 1.4 in Ghana. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ghana: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 88°F in Accra. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Accra gets 29.2 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Ghana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GH SE
Population 33,107,275 10,483,647
Currency Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages English Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +233 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112