Cost of Living Comparison Between China and GhanaCost of Living Comparison Between China and Ghana
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $376 in Ghana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $632 in Ghana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $888 in Ghana.
🌍Living in China is roughly 89% more expensive than in Ghana on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Ghana 72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Ghana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86¥19.35
$3.84GHS 44.30
-25.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44¥159
$44.81GHS 518
-47.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84¥32.75
$7.83GHS 90.5
-38.19%
Cappuccino
$3.11¥21.06
$3.09GHS 35.69
0.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥3.00
$0.94GHS 10.85
-53.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.36GHS 4.20
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98¥6.64
$1.33GHS 15.35
-26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.88
$2.28GHS 26.38
-10.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Ghana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.47
$3.02GHS 34.90
-39.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.94
$1.39GHS 16.01
16.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93¥6.28
$2.14GHS 24.74
-56.54%
Eggs
$1.63¥11.03
$2.31GHS 26.74
-29.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.15¥89.0
$8.11GHS 93.7
62.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26¥22.09
$4.44GHS 51.3
-26.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.62¥71.9
$5.27GHS 60.9
101.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.19
$2.83GHS 32.73
-36.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30¥8.77
$1.39GHS 16.09
-6.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46¥9.90
$1.62GHS 18.74
-9.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.15
$2.73GHS 31.52
-56.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.14
$2.81GHS 32.41
-72.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88¥5.93
$2.06GHS 23.82
-57.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.86
$0.80GHS 9.28
-28.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.63
$0.51GHS 5.88
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42¥23.17
$1.61GHS 18.62
112.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.75¥79.5
$6.97GHS 80.5
68.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.40
$1.12GHS 12.96
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.95
$1.81GHS 20.95
-10.50%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Ghana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.94
$1.08GHS 12.43
-60.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.47¥139
$34.62GHS 400
-40.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.24
$1.47GHS 17.03
-7.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.39
$1.21GHS 14.01
-71.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50¥43.97
$4.43GHS 51.2
46.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.59
$1.07GHS 12.40
4.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.8K
$8,033GHS 92.8K
142.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥114.1K
$10.1KGHS 116.9K
66.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Ghana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.7¥350
$47.57GHS 549
8.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17¥68.8
$13.53GHS 156
-24.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16¥75.5
$42.42GHS 490
-73.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Ghana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.62¥268
$32.03GHS 370
23.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53¥98.3
$15.84GHS 183
-8.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38¥43.19
$9.62GHS 111
-33.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Ghana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407¥2,756
$76.9GHS 888
429.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K¥120.7K
$7,372GHS 85.1K
141.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Ghana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53¥308
$16.71GHS 193
172.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31¥219
$20.70GHS 239
56.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥491
$31.52GHS 364
130.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4¥504
$45.13GHS 521
64.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Ghana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443¥2,996
$515GHS 5,951
-14.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258¥1,747
$158GHS 1,819
63.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910¥6,162
$1,056GHS 12.2K
-13.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543¥3,677
$403GHS 4,651
34.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,934¥33.4K
$3,228GHS 37.3K
52.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,398¥16.2K
$1,697GHS 19.6K
41.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Ghana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,065¥7,205
$252GHS 2,914
321.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
26.83
-84.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ghana: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $287 in China, $90.0 in Ghana. Capital cities: $894 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $530 in Accra.
💰National salary averages: $855 in China, $305 in Ghana. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 219% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 29% more in Ghana.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 180% 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 $862 per month in China and $404 in Ghana, there's a 113% 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 $1,000 go in China compared to Ghana?
In Ghana, $1,000 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.