Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and South Sudan Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and South Sudan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in South Africa vs $236 in South Sudan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,781 per month in South Africa vs $369 in South Sudan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,419 per month in South Africa vs $502 in South Sudan, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 384% higher than in South Sudan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and South Sudan are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 17% lower, South Sudan 83% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in South Africa ($647$1,815) than in South Sudan ($236$236), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30 R 182
$20.20 SSP 56.9K
-44.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.51 R 717
$171 SSP 480.0K
-73.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.90 R 95.0
$7.57 SSP 21.3K
-22.06%
Cappuccino
$2.44 R 39.22
$3.15 SSP 8,863
-22.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R 18.64
$1.49 SSP 4,188
-22.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.39
$1.35 SSP 3,808
-28.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 R 41.29
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 R 49.60
$12.19 SSP 34.3K
-74.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 R 20.57
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 R 18.15
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 R 29.55
-
-
Eggs
$2.55 R 41.12
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.35 R 134
$7.27 SSP 20.5K
14.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.44 R 87.6
$5.39 SSP 15.2K
0.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 R 127
$11.68 SSP 32.9K
-32.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 R 30.61
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 R 27.36
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 R 29.14
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 R 30.23
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 R 24.76
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.03
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 R 21.45
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R 19.09
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 R 55.0
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.08 R 81.7
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 R 24.28
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 R 32.64
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 R 28.39
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.1 R 1,016
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 R 17.97
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R 16.33
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.07 R 130
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 R 23.53
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K R 592.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K R 523.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 R 2,185
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72 R 575
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.40 R 667
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.96 R 563
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.46 R 201
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 R 123
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 R 3,725
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,726 R 92.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 R 908
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.91 R 546
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 R 1,639
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0 R 1,497
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 R 8,154
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 R 6,727
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 R 15.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$838 R 13.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,151 R 18.5K
$1,098 SSP 3.1M
4.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$800 R 12.9K
$589 SSP 1.7M
35.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
South Sudan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,554 R 25.0K
$2,052 SSP 5.8M
-24.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.24
8.85
27.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for South Africa: September 8, 2026

Last update for South Sudan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,553 in South Africa vs $1,801 in South Sudan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Salaries are 16% higher in South Sudan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Sudan.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
South Africa vs South Sudan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Africa more expensive than South Sudan?
South Sudan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 422% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in South Sudan, contributing to the overall 422% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in South Africa or in South Sudan?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in South Sudan, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to South Africa or to South Sudan?
South Sudan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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