Africa · English · updated 2026-10

Moving to Ghana: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,300 a month to live in Accra, and a family of four about $2,750, including rent. Ghana usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 7 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Right of Abode.

Monthly budget

$1,300

Very low cost

Safety

Moderately safe

Stability

Moderate

Family

Limited

Main city: Accra
Language: English
Permanent residence: 5 yrs
Citizenship: 7 yrs
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Digital nomad visa: No

What can your passport do in Ghana?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.

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Cost of living in Ghana, per month in US$

One person

$1,300

Family of four

$2,750

RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther

1-bed flat, Accra centre

$650

Estimate

3-bed family flat

$1,200

Estimate

Price level

US = 100

Income per person

$219

GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score

Moderately safe

Homicides per 100k

1.83

US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability

+0.09

Rule of law

0.00

Control of corruption

−0.11

Government effectiveness

+0.13

−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Moderate overall (47/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score

Limited

Child outcomes (HCI)

0.45

Health & schooling, 0–1

Under-5 mortality

35.9

per 1,000 births

Life expectancy

65.7 yrs

at birth

Health spending

$70

per person / year

Education spending

2.9%

of GDP

Visa & residence routes

Passive income

Right of AbodeFor people of African descent in the diaspora.

Job offer

Work and residence permitSponsored by a registered Ghanaian employer, within quotas.

Who gets easier access to Ghana

ECOWAS protocols give West African citizens the right to reside and work, with a residence card.

Benin Cape Verde Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo

Visiting: 33 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 165 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 0 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs

Permanent residence: 5 yrs; Indefinite residence after 5 years within 7
Citizenship: 7 yrs
Dual citizenship: Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.gis.gov.gh

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Ghana?

About $1,300 a month for one person and $2,750 for a family of four in Accra, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $650 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,200. Prices are 42% of US levels. Ghana is the 25th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Ghana safe to live in?

Ghana scores 57/100 for safety (moderately safe), ranking 53rd of 76. The homicide rate is 1.83 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Ghana politically stable?

Ghana scores 47/100 for stability (moderate), ranking 58th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Ghana good for families?

Ghana scores 25/100 for family-friendliness (limited), ranking 73rd of 76. Life expectancy is 65.7 years and under-5 mortality is 35.9 per 1,000 births.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Ghana?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence. Indefinite residence after 5 years within 7.

How long until I can become a citizen of Ghana?

Usually 7 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Ghana without a job offer?

Yes. Right of Abode: For people of African descent in the diaspora.

Who can live and work in Ghana without a visa?

ECOWAS protocols give West African citizens the right to reside and work, with a residence card. (ECOWAS: Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.)