Moving to Ghana from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Ghana? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Ghana, you would find that Ghana is 50.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly GHS386,748 in Ghana to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Accra averages 88°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Ghana.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GHS386,748
To maintain the same standard of living in Ghana
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 60.2% less
Groceries
pay 9.4% less
Transportation
pay 22.8% less
Housing
pay 62.6% less
Childcare
pay 81.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 56.6% less
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 Iowa to Ghana.
Who's moving to Ghana?
Top countries of origin for Ghana's foreign-born residents.
- 103,799
- 80,652
- 74,228
- 67,431
- 34,940
- 19,736
- · · ·
-
14.716
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ghana compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Ghana performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Ghana across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Ghana leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Ghana across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) |
National Weather Service
Ghana Meteorological AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Ghana
Visa Required
Ghana passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 Iowa?
On average Ghana is about 54% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Ghana?
Budget about GHS96,687 for 3 months in Ghana (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ghana?
From major Ghana cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Ghana are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Ghana compared to Iowa?
Ghana performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Ghana compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Accra is 88°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Accra receives around 29.2 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Ghana?
Both Iowa and Ghana share the same official language: English.
