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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,172 in South Sudan versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,854 in South Sudan versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,536 in South Sudan versus $1,551 in China.

Living in South Sudan is roughly 346% more expensive than China on average.

South Sudan (137% above) and China (47% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in South Sudan: monthly costs span $3,172 to $3,172, compared to $520$1,209 in China. City choice carries more weight in South Sudan.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Sudan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89 SSP 13.8K
$2.81 ¥18.98
74.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.82 SSP 131.8K
$23.30 ¥158
100.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 SSP 19.3K
$5.01 ¥33.87
36.93%
Cappuccino
-
$3.01 ¥20.38
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 SSP 2,872
$0.45 ¥3.03
126.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.29 ¥1.97
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.95 ¥6.41
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.05 ¥13.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Sudan
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.76 ¥11.87
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.62 ¥10.98
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$0.95 ¥6.45
-
Eggs
$2.14 SSP 6,029
$1.56 ¥10.55
37.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.35 SSP 20.7K
$13.06 ¥88.3
-43.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.40 SSP 15.2K
$3.28 ¥22.17
64.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.68 SSP 32.9K
$10.65 ¥72.0
9.67%
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.78 ¥12.03
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.24 ¥8.42
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.50 ¥10.12
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.15 ¥7.79
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.75 ¥5.07
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.86 ¥5.81
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.62 ¥4.17
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 SSP 1,460
$0.56 ¥3.81
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.51 ¥23.76
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.66 ¥78.9
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.80 ¥5.40
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.66 ¥11.25
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Sudan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.43 ¥2.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.86 ¥141
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.13 SSP 20.1K
$1.37 ¥9.26
420.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.35 ¥2.38
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.63 ¥44.82
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 SSP 4,274
$1.14 ¥7.69
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.2K ¥129.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$16.8K ¥113.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Sudan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$51.2 ¥346
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.16 ¥68.7
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.5 SSP 280.0K
$11.51 ¥77.9
764.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Sudan
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$352 SSP 990.1K
$40.53 ¥274
767.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.05 ¥102
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.10 ¥41.26
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Sudan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$826 SSP 2.3M
$402 ¥2,719
105.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.7K ¥119.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Sudan
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$45.57 ¥308
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$33.26 ¥225
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$72.6 ¥491
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.5 ¥503
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Sudan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,480 SSP 9.8M
$429 ¥2,903
710.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 SSP 7.7M
$257 ¥1,739
968.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$12.1K SSP 34.1M
$895 ¥6,055
1254.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 SSP 3.7M
$541 ¥3,660
141.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,074 SSP 3.0M
$5,015 ¥33.9K
-78.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$608 SSP 1.7M
$2,469 ¥16.7K
-75.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Sudan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,006 SSP 5.6M
$1,055 ¥7,132
90.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.85
4.06
117.98%

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

Last update for South Sudan: June 2, 2026

Last update for China: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $3,536 in South Sudan, $286 in China. Capital cities: $3,536 in Juba vs $916 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $1,784 in South Sudan, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1136% higher in South Sudan.

Dining out costs 124% more in South Sudan.

Salaries are 107% higher in South Sudan, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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 Sudan vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or South Sudan?
At $865 per month in China and $3,172 in South Sudan, there's a 267% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or South Sudan?
China is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and South Sudan?
Rent in South Sudan beats China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in China vs South Sudan?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In South Sudan, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and South Sudan?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; South Sudan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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