Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Ghana Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Ghana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in China versus $525 in Ghana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,148 in China versus $860 in Ghana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in China versus $1,195 in Ghana.

Living in China is roughly 37% more expensive than in Ghana on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 48% lower, Ghana 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Ghana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.93 ¥19.60
$7.12 GHS 81.4
-58.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.72 ¥152
$49.49 GHS 565
-54.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ¥33.95
$10.41 GHS 119
-51.30%
Cappuccino
$2.94 ¥19.70
$4.05 GHS 46.27
-27.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.21
$1.15 GHS 13.12
-58.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.02
$0.45 GHS 5.11
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 ¥7.10
$1.78 GHS 20.35
-40.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ¥15.07
$2.60 GHS 29.66
-13.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Ghana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥11.99
$3.32 GHS 37.95
-46.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 ¥11.35
$1.68 GHS 19.14
1.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.45
$3.06 GHS 34.91
-68.63%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.79
$2.72 GHS 31.02
-40.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.60 ¥91.1
$11.60 GHS 132
17.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 ¥22.84
$5.96 GHS 68.1
-42.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ¥74.2
$7.34 GHS 83.9
50.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.09
$2.96 GHS 33.80
-38.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.74
$1.40 GHS 15.95
-7.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 ¥9.91
$1.69 GHS 19.25
-12.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.72
$3.25 GHS 37.15
-60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.82
$2.95 GHS 33.72
-75.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.31
$2.34 GHS 26.70
-59.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.08
$0.92 GHS 10.51
-33.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.73
$0.64 GHS 7.31
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67 ¥24.58
$2.24 GHS 25.54
63.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.90 ¥79.7
$7.10 GHS 81.1
67.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.56
$1.42 GHS 16.19
-41.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ¥11.08
$2.54 GHS 28.99
-35.04%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Ghana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$1.56 GHS 17.77
-81.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.61 ¥151
$40.58 GHS 463
-44.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 ¥9.72
$1.70 GHS 19.44
-14.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ¥2.31
$1.35 GHS 15.39
-74.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ¥48.72
$3.64 GHS 41.59
99.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥8.26
$1.30 GHS 14.82
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.9K
$8,158 GHS 93.2K
139.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥115.5K
$10.2K GHS 116.9K
68.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Ghana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.5 ¥371
$78.8 GHS 900
-29.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51 ¥57.0
$19.52 GHS 223
-56.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81 ¥72.4
$47.51 GHS 543
-77.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Ghana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.02 ¥268
$62.9 GHS 718
-36.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 ¥99.1
$18.89 GHS 216
-21.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ¥45.09
$12.37 GHS 141
-45.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Ghana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 ¥3,042
$409 GHS 4,672
11.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K ¥130.8K
$15.2K GHS 174.1K
28.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Ghana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.95 ¥301
$13.97 GHS 160
221.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.81 ¥240
$18.85 GHS 215
89.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 ¥514
$39.73 GHS 454
93.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 ¥518
$51.3 GHS 586
50.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Ghana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 ¥2,581
$577 GHS 6,592
-33.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 ¥1,623
$244 GHS 2,781
-0.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 ¥5,603
$1,144 GHS 13.1K
-26.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 ¥3,177
$498 GHS 5,691
-4.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,619 ¥30.9K
$3,171 GHS 36.2K
45.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,316 ¥15.5K
$1,728 GHS 19.7K
34.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Ghana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,062 ¥7,110
$224 GHS 2,554
374.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.47
28.8
-87.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ghana: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $295 in China, $97.0 in Ghana. Capital cities: $957 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $693 in Accra.

National salary averages: $865 in China, $348 in Ghana. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 204% higher in China.

Dining out costs 57% more in Ghana.

Public transport is 143% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 149% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
China vs Ghana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Ghana?
At $852 per month in China and $635 in Ghana, there's a 34% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Ghana?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Ghana: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Ghana?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Ghana across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,500 go in China compared to Ghana?
In Ghana, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Ghana?
It depends on what you're after: Ghana wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries