Ghana has been ranked 12th in Africa among 23 countries with the highest cost of living, according to data released by Numbeo. The country scored 30.6 on the cost of living index, with a rent index of 12.1 and a grocery score of 33.3.
Ethiopia topped the continental rankings with a cost of living score of 43.2, followed by Botswana (39.5) and Mozambique (38.9). Ivory Coast (38.8), Somalia (38.7), Cameroon (36.2), Mauritius (35.6), Zimbabwe (34.7), Rwanda (34.6), Zambia (33.8), and Tanzania (31.8) completed the top 11 before Ghana.
The report noted, “Food, housing, transportation, and healthcare not only raise the standard of living but also boost the overall economy.”
Despite Ghana’s position in the index, recent economic data indicates some relief for consumers. Concerns around the high cost of essentials remain prevalent, as the rising prices of food, transportation, and housing typically escalate inflation and the general cost of living.
Inflation in the country saw a notable reduction, falling to 18.4% in May 2025 from 21.2% in April 2025, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline.
The Ghana Statistical Service attributed this development to lower transport fares and a drop in non-food inflation. “Food inflation, though still high, dropped to 22.8% in May 2025 from 25.0% in April 2025, while non-food inflation saw a sharper decline to 14.4% from 17.9%.” It added that food alone contributed 9.7 percentage points to the 18.4% overall inflation figure.
Other non-food sectors, particularly transport, housing, and utilities, also recorded moderation in price pressures. Transport inflation posted the steepest year-on-year decline across all Consumer Price Index divisions, tumbling from 14.9% in April to just 3.1% in May 2025.
