Cost of Living Comparison Between South Sudan and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between South Sudan and United States

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,172 in South Sudan versus $2,643 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,854 in South Sudan versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,536 in South Sudan versus $5,070 in United States.

Living in South Sudan is roughly 20% more expensive than United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: South Sudan 137% above, United States 97% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in South Sudan: monthly costs span $3,172 to $3,172, compared to $1,343$5,081 in United States. City choice carries more weight in South Sudan.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89 SSP 13.8K
$20.04 $20.04
-75.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.82 SSP 131.8K
$76.0 $76.0
-38.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 SSP 19.3K
$11.42 $11.42
-39.93%
Cappuccino
-
$5.39 $5.39
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 SSP 2,872
$2.55 $2.55
-60.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 $2.04
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.14 $6.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.18 $7.18
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$3.65 $3.65
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$4.73 $4.73
-
Eggs
$2.14 SSP 6,029
$4.38 $4.38
-51.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.35 SSP 20.7K
$12.76 $12.76
-42.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.40 SSP 15.2K
$12.42 $12.42
-56.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.68 SSP 32.9K
$16.41 $16.41
-28.82%
Apples (1kg)
-
$5.42 $5.42
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.65 $1.65
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.59 $4.59
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.91 $4.91
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.92 $2.92
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$3.13 $3.13
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.26 $2.26
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 SSP 1,460
$2.30 $2.30
-77.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$9.89 $9.89
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.10 $15.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 $1.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 $3.66
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Sudan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.48 $2.48
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$64.8 $64.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.13 SSP 20.1K
$3.84 $3.84
85.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.76 $1.76
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$30.58 $30.58
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 SSP 4,274
$0.96 $0.96
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.5K $30.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4K $26.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$204 $204
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$57.3 $57.3
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.5 SSP 280.0K
$71.2 $71.2
39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$352 SSP 990.1K
$46.67 $46.67
653.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.12 $22.12
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.84 $13.84
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$826 SSP 2.3M
$1,384 $1,384
-40.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$22.7K $22.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.0 $53.0
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.17 $43.17
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.6 $90.6
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$114 $114
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Sudan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,480 SSP 9.8M
$1,766 $1,766
96.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 SSP 7.7M
$1,459 $1,459
88.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$12.1K SSP 34.1M
$2,832 $2,832
328.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 SSP 3.7M
$2,411 $2,411
-45.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,074 SSP 3.0M
$3,287 $3,287
-67.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$608 SSP 1.7M
$2,650 $2,650
-77.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,006 SSP 5.6M
$4,379 $4,379
-54.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.85
6.51
35.94%

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

Last update for South Sudan: June 2, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $3,536 in South Sudan, $1,637 in United States. Capital cities: $3,536 in Juba vs $2,591 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $1,784 in South Sudan, $4,500 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 116% higher in South Sudan.

Dining out costs 55% more in United States.

Salaries are 152% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in South Sudan compare to United States?
At $3,172 per month in South Sudan and $3,212 in United States, there's a 1% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in South Sudan vs United States?
South Sudan 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.
Is rent more expensive in South Sudan or United States?
Rent in United States beats South Sudan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both South Sudan and United States on $2,000 per month?
In South Sudan, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In United States, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: South Sudan or United States?
It depends on what you're after. South Sudan wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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