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: $712 in China versus $376 in Ghana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in China versus $633 in Ghana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,551 in China versus $889 in Ghana.

Living in China is roughly 89% more expensive than 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
$2.81 ¥18.98
$3.78 GHS 44.39
-25.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.30 ¥158
$43.89 GHS 515
-46.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 ¥33.87
$7.80 GHS 91.5
-35.77%
Cappuccino
$3.01 ¥20.38
$3.15 GHS 36.93
-4.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.03
$0.90 GHS 10.55
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.97
$0.36 GHS 4.25
-19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.41
$1.27 GHS 14.90
-25.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥13.87
$2.30 GHS 27.01
-10.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Ghana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ¥11.87
$2.92 GHS 34.26
-39.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.98
$1.43 GHS 16.78
13.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.45
$2.20 GHS 25.77
-56.82%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.55
$2.37 GHS 27.83
-34.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 ¥88.3
$8.45 GHS 99.2
54.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥22.17
$4.54 GHS 53.3
-27.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.65 ¥72.0
$5.45 GHS 64.0
95.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.03
$2.77 GHS 32.50
-35.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.42
$1.40 GHS 16.38
-11.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.12
$1.55 GHS 18.18
-3.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.79
$2.79 GHS 32.78
-58.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.07
$2.75 GHS 32.27
-72.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥5.81
$2.06 GHS 24.15
-58.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.17
$0.87 GHS 10.22
-28.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.81
$0.54 GHS 6.32
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ¥23.76
$1.57 GHS 18.48
123.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.66 ¥78.9
$7.12 GHS 83.6
63.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.40
$1.12 GHS 13.18
-28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ¥11.25
$1.86 GHS 21.79
-10.75%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Ghana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.93
$1.04 GHS 12.21
-58.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.86 ¥141
$35.61 GHS 418
-41.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ¥9.26
$1.53 GHS 17.93
-10.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.38
$1.28 GHS 14.98
-72.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 ¥44.82
$4.44 GHS 52.2
49.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥7.69
$1.12 GHS 13.13
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥129.7K
$7,860 GHS 92.3K
144.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥113.4K
$10.3K GHS 120.5K
63.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Ghana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 ¥346
$48.69 GHS 572
5.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16 ¥68.7
$13.26 GHS 156
-23.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.51 ¥77.9
$42.41 GHS 498
-72.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Ghana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.53 ¥274
$32.26 GHS 379
25.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05 ¥102
$15.62 GHS 183
-3.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10 ¥41.26
$9.85 GHS 116
-38.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Ghana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$402 ¥2,719
$77.1 GHS 905
421.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥119.5K
$7,341 GHS 86.2K
140.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Ghana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 ¥308
$16.18 GHS 190
181.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26 ¥225
$20.55 GHS 241
61.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 ¥491
$31.48 GHS 370
130.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 ¥503
$44.93 GHS 527
65.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Ghana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$429 ¥2,903
$509 GHS 5,980
-15.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$257 ¥1,739
$159 GHS 1,863
62.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$895 ¥6,055
$1,044 GHS 12.3K
-14.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$541 ¥3,660
$406 GHS 4,764
33.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,015 ¥33.9K
$3,146 GHS 36.9K
59.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,469 ¥16.7K
$1,719 GHS 20.2K
43.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Ghana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,055 ¥7,132
$238 GHS 2,798
342.56%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ghana: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $286 in China, $89.0 in Ghana. Capital cities: $916 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $529 in Accra.

National salary averages: $861 in China, $292 in Ghana. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 221% higher in China.

Dining out costs 29% more in Ghana.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 195% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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 $865 per month in China and $401 in Ghana, there's a 116% 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?
Ghana is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 vs Ghana?
In Ghana, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In China, it works in regional areas but 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 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.

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