Compare countries · Ghana vs Nigeria
Ghana vs Nigeria
Across 12 comparable indicators: Ghana leads on 8, Nigeria on 4. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Ghana cheaper than Nigeria?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Ghana at 33.9 and Nigeria at 27.7. Nigeria is about 18% cheaper overall.
Is Ghana or Nigeria safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Ghana scores 1.94 and Nigeria scores 2.75. Ghana ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Ghana or Nigeria?
On the UN Human Development Index, Ghana scores 0.628 and Nigeria scores 0.560. Ghana scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Ghana compared to Nigeria?
GNI per capita runs $2,630 in Ghana against $1,360 in Nigeria; people live 65.7 years on average against 54.6; Numbeo users rate healthcare 57 against 48. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ghana
33.9
Better than 72% of countries
Nigeria
27.7
Better than 88% of countries
Nigeria: 18% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ghana
10.9
Better than 71% of countries
Nigeria
22.8
Worse than 77% of countries
Ghana: 52% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Ghana
1.94
Around the global middle
Nigeria
2.75
Worse than 87% of countries
Ghana: more peaceful (1.94 vs 2.75).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Ghana
59.8
Better than 62% of countries
Nigeria
33.8
Worse than 91% of countries
Ghana: higher perceived safety (59.8 vs 33.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Ghana
0.628
Worse than 74% of countries
Nigeria
0.560
Worse than 85% of countries
Ghana: higher human development (0.628 vs 0.560).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Ghana
$8,610
Worse than 73% of countries
Nigeria
$9,532
Worse than 70% of countries
Nigeria: 11% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Ghana
65.7 yrs
Worse than 86% of countries
Nigeria
54.6 yrs
Worse than 100% of countries
Ghana: 11.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Ghana
57.0
Worse than 71% of countries
Nigeria
48.3
Worse than 92% of countries
Ghana: better-rated healthcare (57.0 vs 48.3).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Ghana
51 Mbps
Worse than 70% of countries
Nigeria
36 Mbps
Worse than 82% of countries
Ghana: 40% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Ghana
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
Nigeria
48/100
Worse than 62% of countries
Ghana: freer press (72 vs 48 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Ghana
4.55
Worse than 78% of countries
Nigeria
4.79
Worse than 72% of countries
Nigeria: happier on the Cantril ladder (4.79 vs 4.55).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Ghana
540
Better than 65% of countries
Nigeria
568
Better than 71% of countries
Nigeria: stronger English proficiency (568 vs 540).
Not comparable for this pair
- Climate pleasantness: Numbeo doesn't publish a climate index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Ghana and Nigeria for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Ghana profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Nigeria profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.