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: $3,282 in South Sudan versus $2,642 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,889 in South Sudan versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,495 in South Sudan versus $5,072 in United States.

Living in South Sudan is roughly 24% more expensive than in United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: South Sudan 146% above, United States 98% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in South Sudan: monthly costs span $3,282 to $3,282, compared to $1,335$5,182 in United States. City choice carries more weight in South Sudan.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.06 SSP 14.2K
$19.63 $19.63
-74.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.09 SSP 135.4K
$75.4 $75.4
-36.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 SSP 19.3K
$11.57 $11.57
-40.62%
Cappuccino
-
$5.22 $5.22
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 SSP 2,765
$2.49 $2.49
-60.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.06 $2.06
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.91 $5.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.13 $7.13
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.09 $1.09
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$3.56 $3.56
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$4.74 $4.74
-
Eggs
$2.07 SSP 5,839
$4.34 $4.34
-52.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 SSP 20.1K
$12.68 $12.68
-43.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 SSP 15.4K
$12.28 $12.28
-55.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.66 SSP 32.8K
$16.60 $16.60
-29.76%
Apples (1kg)
-
$5.16 $5.16
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.70 $1.70
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.45 $4.45
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.80 $4.80
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.93 $2.93
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$3.09 $3.09
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.22 $2.22
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 SSP 1,470
$2.25 $2.25
-76.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$9.90 $9.90
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.28 $15.28
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 $1.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58 $3.58
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Sudan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.46 $2.46
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$64.6 $64.6
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.93 SSP 19.5K
$3.77 $3.77
83.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.71 $1.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$30.08 $30.08
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 SSP 4,127
$0.96 $0.96
53.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.9K $29.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.1K $26.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$210 $210
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$56.3 $56.3
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 SSP 283.6K
$72.9 $72.9
38.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$344 SSP 969.6K
$45.39 $45.39
658.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.60 $21.60
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.04 $14.04
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$839 SSP 2.4M
$1,377 $1,377
-39.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$22.4K $22.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$52.7 $52.7
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$42.41 $42.41
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.8 $91.8
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$114 $114
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Sudan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,440 SSP 9.7M
$1,765 $1,765
94.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 SSP 7.5M
$1,462 $1,462
82.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$12.0K SSP 33.7M
$2,849 $2,849
320.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 SSP 3.6M
$2,369 $2,369
-45.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,083 SSP 3.0M
$3,364 $3,364
-67.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$592 SSP 1.7M
$2,665 $2,665
-77.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Sudan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,002 SSP 5.6M
$4,378 $4,378
-54.27%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $3,532 in South Sudan, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $3,532 in Juba vs $1,625 in Washington, MI.

National salary averages: $1,764 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 155% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States?
At $3,282 per month in South Sudan and $3,259 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in United States: 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 in United States?
Rent in South Sudan is consistently higher than in United States 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 $4,000 per month?
In United States, $4,000 covers most cities easily; in South Sudan it stretches only to regional areas and 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: United States 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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