Average Cost Of Building A House In Ghana

The average cost of building a house in Ghana is GH₵.3,000-GH₵.5,000 per square meter. The location of building a house in Ghana, among other factors like size, affects this cost significantly, as we will show you. The cost of building a 5-bedroom house in Ghana is GH₵.1 million-GH₵.2.5 million on average. We have prepared a table for you with houses of different sizes and how much they cost. If you are working with a low budget, we have a list of hacks for lowering the building costs.

Building a house in Ghana is expensive but why? We will explain why building a house in Ghana is difficult for most citizens. While building a house in Ghana might be expensive, there are still ways to manage finances and build a house successfully, as we will show you. Before that, let us first go through the basic costs that should not miss in a budget plan when building a house in Ghana.

Cost Breakdown Of Building A House In Ghana

A housing budget is really important when building your house in Ghana, regardless of the location you set up. Most importantly, finances will not be wasted, and the construction will not have to cease due to mismanagement. Below are costs that should not miss in a budget plan to build a house in Ghana.

1. Cost of building materials in Ghana

We have all been to different houses and agree they are all unique, from the flooring design to the type of ceiling. The building materials used for finishes vary from house to house. All houses, however, use the same building materials to set up the main structure before modification. Let us go through the table below to learn the basic building materials for a house in Ghana and how much they cost.

Basic Building Materials And Cost In Ghana

2. Cost of hiring labor in Ghana

The cost of hiring labor to build a house in Ghana is GH₵.1,500-GH₵.10,000 on average. Laborers are paid depending on the following factors:

• Level of experience: The most experienced laborer on a construction site receives the highest pay.
• The difficulty of a task: Workers responsible for the most difficult jobs on a construction site are paid highly.
• Quantity of job done: On a construction site, the jobs that do not need experience are determined by quantity e.g., a laborer carrying stones is paid for every stone.
• Location of the construction site: A construction site in the city pays its workers more than compared to workers in rural areas.

3. Cost of legal requirements to build a house in Ghana

The government of Ghanaians expects all its citizens intending to build a house to acquire a building permit. The total cost of acquiring a building permit in Ghana is GH₵.300- GH₵.400 on average. The location of a construction site determines the cost of a building permit. They vary from one place to another depending on the habitants’ worth of living.

The building permit solely costs GH₵.80- GH₵.150 on average. Other costs cover the inspection of the building area and application fees. Apart from these, when building a house, have a budget for transportation for when you apply for the building permit and when you go to collect it when it’s ready.

4. Cost of buying land in Ghana

The cost of buying land in Ghana is GH₵.300-GH₵.5,000 per sqm on average. Land rates in Ghana vary depending on the location of the land. In urban centers, the cost of buying land is GH₵.1,000-GH₵.5,000 per sqm on average. The demand for land in the urban centers is very high. In the rural areas of Ghana, the cost of building a house is GH₵.300-GH₵.500 on average.

When buying land to build a house in Ghana, remember that location is not the only cost determinant. Whether buying land in a rural setting or an urban center, the land’s proximity to a means of transport e.g., roads or airports, determines the cost. The closer the land is to a main road, the more it will cost. Building close to a road is efficient, and that is why there is a high demand for these lands in Ghana.

Cost Of Building A House Depending On House Size

Looking to build a house, one decides on the size that will be adequate for them and their family. The number of bedrooms determines the size of a house in Ghana. Most people live as families. Therefore, when building a house in Ghana, they build a house that will fit their family. 3-bedroom houses are the most preferred because the cost of building them is moderate and the size is enough. Below are the costs of building a house in Ghana, depending on the number of bedrooms.

House Size And Cost Of Building In Ghana

1. Cost of building a 5-bedroom house in Ghana

The cost of building a 5-bedroom house in Ghana is GH₵.1 million-GH₵.2.5million on average. This cost varies depending on the following factors:

• How the house is designed: A 5-bedroom place is extensive and can be built in many ways. Choosing to go for a complex design costs more to make. For example, a story house costs more than a bungalow. With a staircase, more building material is needed.
• Where do you want to build a house in Ghana: The building cost in Ghanaian cities are higher than in rural areas. There are many reasons for this e.g. laborers charge more in urban centers and high legal fees, among others.
• The types of building materials used to build a house: Building materials come in different qualities. High-quality building materials cost more than low-quality building materials. For example, stainless steel doors cost more than steel doors because they are corrosion-resistant.
• The house’s proximity to important means of transport, e.g. highways and airstrips. Living close to these means of transport is very convenient. Buying land to build a house close to them costs very high because they have a high demand.

2. Cost of building a 4-bedroom house in Ghana

The cost of building a 4-bedroom house is GH₵.750,000-GH₵.1.5 million on average. A 4-bedroom house in the rural areas of Ghana costs lower to build. The only thing that is expensive in rural settings is the cost of building materials. They are priced higher because they are not easily available. Apart from building materials, all the other costs of building a house are lower than in the urban centers e.g., labor and, most importantly, land.

The cost of building a 4-bedroom house is flexible depending on your budget plan. You can manipulate the design of the house to lower the cost if it gets too expensive. In addition to that, you can use moderate quality or recycled building materials. If you have a family that can only fit in this house, there are many ways to maintain the size of the house and still lower the cost.

3. Cost of building a 3-bedroom house in Ghana

The cost of building a 3-bedroom house in Ghana is GH₵.350,000-GH₵.500,000 on average. Middle-class earning families in Ghana go for this house because it has enough space and is not too expensive to build. Building a 3-bedroom house with existing land will be fair regardless of the construction location. If you are buying land first, then it will be costly to build this house in the city. Since most middle-class earners have to live in the city because they have jobs there, they can do the following to ensure they build a 3-bedroom house at a fair cost:

• Buy land on the outskirts of the city. This is a distance from the central business districts and the main means of transport to get low rates.
• Use recycled building materials still good in shape: This does not mean worn-out building materials. There are building materials that have been used for a short time and are still in good shape.
• Have a house design that will not use too many building materials, e.g., flat roofs need less roofing than a pitched top.

Housing Problems In Ghana

The value of the Ghana Cedi went very low in the year 2022. This increased the cost of goods and services over a very short time. Ghanaian citizens ended up not managing to afford to build or buy houses due to the high cost of living, which has kept increasing over the years. Buying or building a house in Ghana is very expensive. The income the citizens of Ghana earn is not enough to buy or build a house from their finances or loans.

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