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

Name: Sudan
Address: SD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in South Africa vs $193 in Sudan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,773 per month in South Africa vs $309 in Sudan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,408 per month in South Africa vs $424 in Sudan, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 489% higher than in Sudan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Sudan are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 17% lower, Sudan 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.22 R 182

$2.97 SDG 1,775

277.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.86 R 697

$14.36 SDG 8,598

198.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 R 93.8

$2.58 SDG 1,546

123.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SDG 1,224

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 SDG 1,173

Cappuccino

$2.41 R 39.22

$2.59 SDG 1,551

-6.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 R 19.41

$0.52 SDG 309

128.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 R 14.22

$0.56 SDG 336

55.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 R 39.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 R 48.66

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 R 20.32

$1.15 SDG 686

8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 R 17.83

$1.10 SDG 657

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 R 28.72

$1.06 SDG 636

66.98%

Eggs

$2.51 R 40.82

$2.82 SDG 1,687

-10.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 R 138

$6.80 SDG 4,068

24.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.41 R 88.0

$8.23 SDG 4,926

-34.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 R 129

$14.41 SDG 8,624

-44.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 R 29.55

$4.28 SDG 2,561

-57.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 R 27.40

$1.60 SDG 961

5.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 R 28.14

$1.53 SDG 915

13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 R 28.78

$3.32 SDG 1,984

-46.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 R 23.90

$1.82 SDG 1,088

-19.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 R 23.82

$1.05 SDG 627

39.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 R 20.40

$0.70 SDG 420

78.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 R 18.81

$0.53 SDG 320

118.87%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.95 SDG 2,366

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 SDG 501

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 SDG 1,000

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 R 53.9

$1.77 SDG 1,059

87.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 R 79.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 R 24.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 R 33.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 R 27.42

$0.50 SDG 301

238.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.8 R 1,020

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 R 17.51

$3.80 SDG 2,275

-71.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.94 R 15.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 R 128

$4.93 SDG 2,953

60.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 R 23.21

$1.32 SDG 792

8.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.6K R 595.3K

$5,070 SDG 3.0M

622.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.1K R 506.0K

$10.1K SDG 6.0M

209.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$131 R 2,132

$70.5 SDG 42.2K

85.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.38 R 575

$9.73 SDG 5,827

263.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.24 R 671

$29.42 SDG 17.6K

40.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.46 R 560

$7.97 SDG 4,773

332.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.85 R 193

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 R 123

$3.91 SDG 2,342

93.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$231 R 3,764

$85.5 SDG 51.2K

170.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,534 R 90.0K

$1,946 SDG 1.2M

184.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 R 895

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.73 R 548

$8.59 SDG 5,140

292.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 R 1,631

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 R 1,487

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 R 8,151

$640 SDG 383.1K

-21.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 R 6,805

$220 SDG 131.7K

90.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 R 15.5K

$1,373 SDG 821.9K

-30.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 R 13.4K

$620 SDG 371.0K

33.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,158 R 18.8K

$1,519 SDG 909.2K

-23.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$788 R 12.8K

$1,079 SDG 645.7K

-26.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,542 R 25.1K

$214 SDG 127.9K

621.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.24

-62.53%

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

Last update for South Africa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sudan: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $444 in South Africa vs $223 in Sudan. For reference, capital cities sit at $320 in Bloemfontein and $592 in Khartoum.

Average salary: $1,543 in South Africa vs $218 in Sudan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 99% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 1900% more in South Africa.

Salaries are 608% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

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 Sudan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sudan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 275% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sudan, contributing to the overall 275% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sudan, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.