Moving to Ghana from United States
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United States to Ghana — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from United States to Ghana, you would find that Ghana is 56.6% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly GHS280,732 in Ghana to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Accra averages 88°F vs 66°F in Washington, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from United States to Ghana.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GHS280,732
To maintain the same standard of living in Ghana
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 63.4% less
Groceries
pay 24.3% less
Transportation
pay 38.3% less
Housing
pay 68.4% less
Childcare
pay 85.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.9% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Ghana
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from United States to Ghana, and how the trend has changed.
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
How United States and Ghana stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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 United States 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States 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
share of households with internet
United States 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
share of people below the poverty line
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Ghana leads in unemployment rate.
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
United States performs better than Ghana across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal 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 | Washington | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Accra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States?
Generally yes: Ghana runs about 68% cheaper than United States on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Ghana?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around GHS70,183 in Ghana for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ghana?
With 0.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ghana can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in United States and Ghana.
Is Ghana safe for expats?
Ghana generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ghana is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 83% of people in Ghana feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Ghana compared to United States?
Ghana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Ghana, compared to 36.1 in United States. Ghana scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Ghana compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Accra is 88°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Accra receives around 29.2 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ghana?
Both United States and Ghana share the same official language: English.
