Typical prices in Ghana
A practical, honest price reference for travellers, from a bowl of jollof to a night's stay, so you can budget with confidence.
The short answer
- Everyday prices in Ghana are quoted in cedis (GHS), and the cedi-to-dollar rate moves, so treat every figure as a general guide.
- Street food and local eateries are excellent value; a filling local meal often costs just a few dollars.
- Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap in town, but agree fares or use the app to avoid surprises.
- Accommodation spans budget guesthouses to international hotels, with huge variation.
- A local SIM and data bundle is inexpensive and one of the first things worth buying.
- Carry small cash and use mobile money; always confirm current rates before you rely on any figure.
At a glance
| Local meal (chop bar) | ~GHS 30 to 80 (a few US$) |
|---|---|
| Restaurant main (mid-range) | ~GHS 90 to 200 |
| Local beer | ~GHS 20 to 45 |
| In-town taxi or ride-hail | ~GHS 25 to 90 depending on distance |
| Budget to mid hotel per night | ~US$25 to US$120 |
| Local SIM plus data bundle | Inexpensive; confirm current bundle rates |
How prices work in Ghana
Prices in Ghana are quoted in cedis (GHS), and the exchange rate against the dollar and pound moves, sometimes noticeably. As a team based in Kasoa who arrange trips every week, our best advice is to learn a few reference prices, carry small cash, and check the day's rate rather than trusting a figure you read months ago. This page gives realistic ranges, not promises.
Bargaining is normal at markets and with informal taxis, but fixed-price shops, supermarkets and app-based rides are not up for negotiation. A friendly, unhurried manner goes a long way, and prices quoted to obvious tourists sometimes start high, so knowing the going rate is your best tool. For the mechanics of paying, our guide to money in Ghana and mobile money is the place to start, and always confirm current rates before you rely on any number here.
Food and drink
Eating is where Ghana shines for value. A generous plate of jollof, waakye or banku from a local chop bar often costs just a few dollars, while a main at a mid-range restaurant might run GHS 90 to 200. Street food, kelewele, grilled tilapia, roadside kebabs, is cheaper still and delicious.
A local beer is modestly priced; imported drinks cost more. A coffee or fresh juice at a smart cafe sits closer to Western prices, while a cold sachet or bottle of water costs next to nothing. For where to eat and what to try, see our Ghanaian food guide and street food guide. Bottled water is cheap and widely sold, and we cover safe drinking in our water and what to drink guide.
Getting around
Local transport is inexpensive. Shared tro-tros cost very little for short hops, while an in-town taxi or ride-hail trip typically falls between GHS 25 and 90 depending on distance and traffic. For informal taxis, agree the fare before you get in; for apps, the price is set for you.
For longer routes, comfortable intercity coaches are good value, and a private car with driver buys convenience and peace of mind, especially given the distances and road conditions between cities. See getting around Ghana for the full picture on options and typical costs, and factor in fuel and any tolls on longer runs.
Hotels, SIMs and the little things
Accommodation varies hugely. A clean budget guesthouse might cost US$25 to US$50 a night, a comfortable mid-range hotel US$60 to US$120, and international hotels considerably more. Location and season both matter, so compare and confirm before booking.
A local SIM with a data bundle is one of the cheapest and most useful things to buy on arrival, budget a small amount and you are connected for maps, ride apps and mobile money. Bring your passport to register it, and buy from an official provider shop rather than a street seller so the SIM is properly activated in your name.
Small extras add up: bottled water, tips, market souvenirs and entry fees. Laundry, sunscreen and a few tourist-priced toiletries can nudge the total, too, so keep a little slack in your daily plan. Our Ghana trip cost breakdown and cost of living guides put these everyday prices into a full-trip context.
Getting fair prices
A few habits keep costs honest. Carry small notes so you are not stuck waiting for change; use mobile money where it is accepted; and learn the going rate for a taxi ride before you take one. A polite question, how much is this normally, usually gets a fair answer.
Prices drift upward over time and with the exchange rate, so use the ranges here as a starting point and verify the current figure on the ground. When in doubt, ask a local, or ask us. A quick glance at what other customers are paying, or a friendly question to a shopkeeper, will usually tell you whether a quoted price is fair before you commit to it.
Plan a trip that fits your budget
Ghana can be wonderfully affordable or genuinely upscale, and everything in between. Knowing a handful of reference prices means you rarely overpay and always feel in control. As the team who runs these trips every week, we are glad to build an itinerary around the budget you have in mind.
All figures on this page are general ranges that change with the market, so confirm current rates before you rely on them.
Questions people ask
Is Ghana expensive for tourists?
Ghana can be very affordable if you eat local, use shared transport and stay in guesthouses, or upscale if you choose international hotels and imported goods. Food and local transport are excellent value; imported items cost more. Treat all prices as general ranges and confirm current rates.
How much is a meal in Ghana?
A local chop-bar meal often costs just a few dollars (roughly GHS 30 to 80), while a main at a mid-range restaurant might be GHS 90 to 200. Street food is cheaper still. Prices vary by city and venue, so confirm on the day.
What does a taxi cost in Ghana?
An in-town taxi or ride-hail trip usually falls between GHS 25 and 90 depending on distance and traffic. Agree the fare before you set off with informal taxis, or use an app for a set price.
Should I use cash or card in Ghana?
Carry cedis for everyday spending, markets and tips, as many places are cash-first. Top hotels and larger restaurants take cards, and mobile money is widely used. See our money and mobile money guide for details.
How much is a local SIM and data in Ghana?
A SIM with a data bundle is inexpensive and well worth buying on arrival for maps, ride apps and mobile money. Bundle prices change, so confirm current rates at the provider's shop.
How much cash should I bring to Ghana?
Bring enough for a few days of small cash spending and top up with mobile money or ATMs as you go. Amounts depend on your style of travel; our trip cost breakdown helps you estimate a realistic figure.
What I know about Ghanaian travel comes from doing it: filing passport and visa applications, booking flights and hotels, collecting people from arrivals at two in the morning, and driving the Accra, Tema, Cape Coast and Kumasi runs week after week. Where this guide describes how something works, it is because we have done it.
Rules, fees and timetables in Ghana change. I have deliberately not quoted figures that go stale — where a number matters I name the office to confirm it with. If you spot something out of date, tell me and we will fix it.
Related guides.
Coming homeThe cost of living in Ghana
The structure of what a household actually spends in Ghana, the four decisions that set the number, and why online cost calculators describe nobody who lives here.
Trip planningWhat a Ghana trip actually costs
A Ghana budget is decided by four or five choices made before you leave, and almost none of them are the ones travellers spend the most time worrying about.
Trip planningMoney in Ghana
The cedi, mobile money and cash in hand — how payment really works in Ghana, and the small habits that stop money becoming the annoying part of your trip.
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