Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Sudan and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in South Sudan: $337 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $28,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

South Sudan
United States
🇸🇸 South Sudan
$337
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Sudan and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Sudan and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $337 in South Sudan versus $2,734 in the United States.

  • South Sudan $337
  • United States $2,734

Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in South Sudan versus $3,985 in the United States.

  • South Sudan $960
  • United States $3,985

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,582 in South Sudan versus $5,235 in the United States.

  • South Sudan $1,582
  • United States $5,235

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $233–$233 in South Sudan. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in South Sudan costs about 88% less than in the United States on average.

South Sudan (75% below) and the United States (101% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 SSP 113.5K
$20.03 $20.03
-1.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$168 SSP 965.0K
$80.0 $80.0
109.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.40 SSP 42.5K
$11.80 $11.80
-37.29%
Cappuccino
$3.19 SSP 18.3K
$5.55 $5.55
-42.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 SSP 8,811
$2.66 $2.66
-42.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 SSP 7,656
$2.17 $2.17
-38.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.12 $6.12
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.27 SSP 70.6K
$7.94 $7.94
54.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$3.59 $3.59
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$4.52 $4.52
-
Eggs
-
$4.28 $4.28
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 SSP 41.4K
$13.22 $13.22
-45.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.22 SSP 30.0K
$12.60 $12.60
-58.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 SSP 68.0K
$17.60 $17.60
-32.78%
Apples (1kg)
-
$5.30 $5.30
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.69 $1.69
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.44 $4.44
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.77 $4.77
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.97 $2.97
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$3.15 $3.15
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.20 $2.20
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.35 $2.35
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$10.98 $10.98
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.05 $15.05
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.06 $2.06
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79 $3.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Sudan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.94 $1.94
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$59.4 $59.4
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.58 $3.58
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.88 $1.88
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$29.84 $29.84
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.02 $1.02
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.8K $28.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.2K $26.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$218 $218
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$62.5 $62.5
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$74.5 $74.5
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.86 $41.86
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.81 $22.81
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.70 $14.70
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,489 $1,489
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.3K $25.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.3 $54.3
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$42.71 $42.71
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.1 $94.1
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$114 $114
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Sudan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,659 $1,659
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,348 $1,348
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,682 $2,682
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,169 $2,169
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,089 SSP 6.3M
$3,283 $3,283
-66.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$609 SSP 3.5M
$2,482 $2,482
-75.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,015 SSP 11.6M
$4,296 $4,296
-53.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.85
6.55
35.11%

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

Last update for South Sudan: October 24, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
South Sudan
–
United States
$1.3K
Groceries & Markets
South Sudan
–
United States
$415
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Sudan
–
United States
$355
Eating Out
South Sudan
–
United States
$328
Clothing & Footwear
South Sudan
–
United States
$137
Getting Around
South Sudan
–
United States
$80
Sport & Entertainment
South Sudan
–
United States
$71

Cost Breakdown

National salary averages: $1,743 in South Sudan, $4,549 in the United States. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Salaries are about 2.6 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Sudan.

Good to know
🇸🇸 South Sudan
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
11:29 11:29 AM
05:29 5:29 AM
6 h behind South Sudan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,575,714
340,110,988
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SSP – South Sudanese Pound Converter

South Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5,751 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.74 USD). 1 EUR = 6,401 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.56 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Sudan United States 12,210 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • South Sudan
  • United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 the cost in the United States?
At $337 per month in South Sudan and $2,734 in the United States, there’s a 710% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, South Sudan is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
Which country is better for expats: South Sudan or the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: South Sudan wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

South Sudan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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