Cost of Living in Accra

Ghana

Comfortable budget (single)

$1,559/month

Range $985–$1,559/month

Overall 7.7Safety 9.7Housing 7.1QoL 7.6

Last updated: 2026-03

Can you afford to live in Accra?

Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).

Daily costs at a glance

Typical prices you'll pay in Accra for everyday essentials.

Coffee

$2

flat white at cafe

Beer

$2.8

pint at pub

Lunch

$8

meal at inexpensive restaurant

Groceries

$195

single-person monthly groceries

Transport

$43

monthly pass

Gym

$21

monthly membership

Full cost breakdown

Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.

CategoryUSD/monthvs global
Rent (1-bed, city center)$738–$1,149 -53%
Rent (1-bed, outside center)$390–$615 -53%
Utilities (electricity, heating, water)$31–$59 -54%
Internet & Mobile$12–$21 -53%
Groceries (monthly)$156–$234 -53%
Eating out (per meal, mid-range)$21–$37 -53%
Coffee$2–$2 -50%
Public transport (monthly pass)$39–$47 -53%
Gym membership$14–$27 -53%
Cinema ticket$6–$7 -54%

Housing market

Rent vs buy snapshot for Accra — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.

Rent (1-bed center)

$738–$1,149/mo

Buy center (per m²)

$3,010

Buy outside (per m²)

$1,650

Price-to-rent ratio

12×

Avg mortgage rate

22.0%

💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Accra center at ~$3,010/m² with a 25y loan at 22.0% would cost roughly $3,325/month — compare that to the rent range above.

Local salaries (monthly net, USD)

Typical take-home in Accra. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.

RoleMonthly netCovers rent?
Average net salary$1,000❌ No
Software engineer (mid)$2,200❌ No
Marketing manager$1,800❌ No
Teacher (secondary)$900❌ No
Nurse (RN)$1,200❌ No

Local insider tips

Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Accra.

For convenient and reliable transport, use ride-hailing apps like Bolt or Yango to navigate busy areas such as Osu and East Legon.

Stock up on groceries and household items at major supermarkets like Shoprite or Palace Supermarket found in malls like Accra Mall.

Leverage mobile money services like MTN Mobile Money for secure and easy payments, widely accepted by vendors across the city.

Budget scenarios

Single

$985–$1,559/month

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
  • Groceries: ~$234/mo
  • Transport: ~$47/mo

Couple

$1,559–$2,379/month

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
  • Groceries: ~$234/mo
  • Transport: ~$47/mo

Family

$2,256–$3,487/month

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
  • Groceries: ~$234/mo
  • Transport: ~$47/mo

Neighbourhood guide

Accra Center

Central

Urban core, transit access

Est. 1-bed rent: $923–$1,436/mo

Accra Midtown

Central

Mixed residential

Est. 1-bed rent: $812–$1,264/mo

Accra Outer

Suburban

Quieter, family-friendly

Est. 1-bed rent: $590–$919/mo

Quality of life scores

Housing7.1/10
Safety9.7/10
Healthcare8.0/10
Education7.6/10
Environment8.4/10
Economy6.7/10
Culture7.3/10
Internet7.7/10

Pros & cons

✅ Pros

  • Stability
  • English
  • Coast

❌ Cons

  • Traffic
  • Power cuts

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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.