Accra on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Accra can be done on a budget if you live like a local: guesthouse rooms, chop bars and shared transport. A realistic minimum is about GH₵ 730 per person per day sharing a double, with bed GH₵ 350, food GH₵ 200, sights GH₵ 100 and transport GH₵ 80.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | GH₵350 | GH₵850 | GH₵2,200 |
| Food & drink | GH₵200 | GH₵450 | GH₵900 |
| Sights & tickets | GH₵100 | GH₵250 | GH₵500 |
| Local transport | GH₵80 | GH₵200 | GH₵600 |
| Per person, per day | GH₵730 | GH₵1,750 | GH₵4,200 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Accra day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Black Star Square and the Independence Arch facing the Gulf of Guinea
- Walking Oxford Street in Osu for street life and food stalls
- Browsing Makola Market, the huge central market for fabric and beads
- Looking at Osu Castle (Fort Christiansborg) and the coastline from outside
- Weekend drumming and dancing at the free stretches of the beach near Labadi
- Live highlife and Afrobeats at Osu bars, many with no cover on weeknights
Cheap eats
- Banku with grilled tilapia at a chop bar: about GH₵ 80-120
- Waakye (rice and beans) from a morning street stall: much less than a restaurant meal
- Kelewele (spicy fried plantain) from evening vendors: a few cedis a portion
- Khebab (suya-style grilled meat skewers) from street grills
- Fresh coconuts and seasonal fruit (pineapple, mango) from roadside sellers
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers mostly stay in Osu guesthouses, close to Oxford Street, bars and cheap food, with doubles around GH₵ 600-1,100. A few hostels in Osu and around the Airport area offer dorm beds for less, and Labone has some good-value small guesthouses.
Getting around cheaply
Tro-tros are the cheapest way around, at a few cedis a ride, but Uber/Bolt at GH₵ 40-90 across the centre is far easier and still affordable if shared. From Kotoka International Airport, Uber or Bolt to Osu takes 20-40 minutes; avoid rush hours (7:00-9:30 and 16:30-19:30).
A sample budget day
- Morning: Black Star Square and the Nkrumah Mausoleum (about GH₵ 100-150)
- Lunch: banku with tilapia at a chop bar near Jamestown (about GH₵ 80-100)
- Afternoon: Jamestown with a local guide (about GH₵ 100) and Makola Market
- Evening: Bolt back to Osu (about GH₵ 50), kelewele and a local beer on Oxford Street
- Total: about GH₵ 730 including a shared guesthouse room
More ways to save
- Carry small cedi notes: markets, tro-tros and chop bars rarely have change for big notes.
- Bargain politely at the Arts Centre and Aburi carving village; first prices are set high.
- Travel outside rush hours so your ride-hailing fares stay low.
- Use free Wi-Fi in cafes and malls, or buy a local SIM or eSIM for cheaper data than roaming.
- Combine Aburi with a stop at the carving village on the same hired-car day.
- Ask your guesthouse for prices of common rides so you know what fair looks like.
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Common questions
What is the minimum daily budget for Accra?
About GH₵ 730 per person per day, sharing a double in a guesthouse, eating at chop bars and using shared transport or Bolt.
Is street food in Accra safe?
Busy stalls with a quick turnover, cooking food hot in front of you, are usually fine. Waakye, kelewele and grilled khebab are popular and cheap.
Can I pay by card in Accra?
Hotels, malls and better restaurants take cards, but markets, taxis and chop bars need cash. Carry cedis from bank ATMs.