Moving to Ghana from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Ghana? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Ghana, you would find that Ghana is 13.8% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,218,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly GHS592,525 in Ghana to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Accra averages 88°F vs 77°F in Pretoria, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Africa and Ghana.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,218,000 → GHS592,525
To maintain the same standard of living in Ghana
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 17.2% less
Groceries
pay 42.7% more
Transportation
pay 31.1% less
Housing
pay 29.1% less
Childcare
pay 4.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.9% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ghana compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Ghana generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ghana leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Ghana leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Ghana leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Ghana generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Ghana leads in life expectancy.
Data: South African Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Ghana Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa 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.
South Africa passport holder visiting Ghana
Visa Free
Ghana passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa FreeData: 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 South Africa?
On average Ghana is about 26% less expensive than South Africa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Ghana?
Budget about GHS148,131 for 3 months in Ghana (based on a ZAR1,218,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ghana?
Connectivity is usually fine (Ghana: 0.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ghana offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Ghana safe for expats?
Ghana generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ghana is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa. About 83% of people in Ghana feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Ghana compared to South Africa?
South Africa 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 8.1 in South Africa. Ghana scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Ghana compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Accra is 88°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Accra receives around 29.2 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Ghana?
The official language in Ghana is English. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Ghana
At a Glance
ZA
|
GH
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 33,107,275 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | English |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +233 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 112 |