🇬🇭 Ghana · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Accra? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed, Cantonments / Airport ResidentialGHS 6,000–14,000 / month, commonly demanded a year at a time
One-bed, East Legon or DzorwuluGHS 3,500–8,000 / month
Utilities including generator fuel shareGHS 600–1,800 / month depending on the building
Groceries, one person, mixed local and importedGHS 1,500–3,500 / month
Bolt or Yango across townGHS 25–70 per trip
Good to know
Population
About 2.6 million in the Accra Metropolitan area; well over 5 million across Greater Accra
Languages
English is official; Twi is the widest-spoken Ghanaian language in Accra, and Ga is the language of the city's original inhabitants
Currency
Ghanaian cedi (GHS)
Time zone
GMT — Accra sits almost exactly on the Greenwich meridian and does not observe daylight saving
Power plug
Type G, 230 V — the same plug as the UK
Climate
Hot and humid, with a major rainy season roughly April to June, a minor one in September and October, and a dry Harmattan period around December and January
Driving side
Right
National ID
The Ghana Card. Foreigners resident 90 days or more hold the non-citizen version, and its PIN is your taxpayer number
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Accra checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Accra
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.