Cost of Living in Sudan: What to Expect

The cost of living in Sudan in 2026 depends almost entirely on where you are and which currency you earn. A foreigner living in Port Sudan, the government’s base since the war began, should plan on roughly $1,100–$2,700 a month as a single person, $1,800–$4,000 as a couple, and $3,000–$6,000 for a family of four. Most of that is rent for a furnished home, which landlords often price in US dollars. These figures use a parallel-market rate of about SDG 7,500 per US dollar (late September 2026). Local families live on far less, but a casual laborer earns only about SDG 380,000 (~$51) a month. Sudan has been at war since April 2023, prices change weekly, and the US and UK governments advise against travel. Below you’ll find rents, food and fuel prices, wages, visa costs, and sample budgets, with every figure dated.

Quick Answer

• Single foreigner (Port Sudan): about $1,100–$2,700 a month (SDG 8.3–20.3 million).
• Couple: about $1,800–$4,000 a month (SDG 13.5–30 million).
• Family of four: about $3,000–$6,000 a month (SDG 22.5–45 million), before school fees.
• Exchange rate: about SDG 7,300–8,400 per dollar on the parallel market in September 2026; banks posted SDG 3,230–4,370.
• Inflation: 41.61% a year in July 2026, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
• Rent in Khartoum: SDG 300,000–600,000 (~$40–$80) a month for basic homes rented by returning families.
• Petrol: about SDG 37,000 per gallon at official stations (~$4.93) and SDG 60,000 (~$8.00) on the parallel market.
• Casual labor wage: about SDG 14,704 a day nationally (April 2026), or roughly $2 at today’s rate.

Exchange Rate and Inflation in 2026

Two numbers shape every price in Sudan this year: the parallel-market dollar rate and inflation.

The exchange rate. Sudan has two rates. Banks post one, and traders on the street use another. Most real prices, from fuel to rent, follow the street rate. The pound has lost more than 90% of its value since the war began, when a dollar cost about SDG 565.

In mid-September the dollar jumped 40% in three weeks, to SDG 8,400, as reported by Sudan Tribune via AllAfrica. Some shops stopped selling until the rate settled. A few days later it eased to SDG 7,300, according to Sudan Tribune’s September 20 market report. This guide uses SDG 7,500 per dollar for all conversions. Check the rate on the day you pay, because it can move 10% or more in a week.

Inflation. The Central Bureau of Statistics put annual inflation at 41.61% in July 2026, down from 51.28% in June, per Sudan Tribune’s report on the CBS figures. Prices still rose 1.47% in that single month. Food and drinks make up about 53% of the official household budget, so food prices drive most of the pain.

If you earn in dollars, the weak pound makes local goods cheap. If you earn in pounds, the same weak pound makes almost everything harder to afford.

Safety and Where People Live Now

Any budget for Sudan starts with security. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions of people. The US State Department rates Sudan at Level 4: Do Not Travel (May 2026), and the US Embassy in Khartoum has been closed since April 2023. Americans in Sudan cannot get routine consular help.

Where people live has shifted:

• Port Sudan on the Red Sea hosts the government, UN agencies, and many companies. Demand from displaced families and organizations pushed rents up sharply, and some landlords want payment in dollars.
• Khartoum has seen families return in 2026, but power cuts, damaged buildings, and limited water remain common.
• Kassala, Gedaref, Atbara, and towns in the Northern and River Nile states took in many displaced people. Price data for these towns is thin.
• Darfur and Kordofan remain active conflict zones. Some cities, such as El Fasher and Kadugli, have been under siege, and price data there is unreliable.

Housing and Rent by City

No official rent index exists for wartime Sudan, and crowd-sourced data is very thin (fewer than 10 contributors in the past year). The table below pulls together reported rents and labels the date of each one.

A few patterns stand out:

• Port Sudan is the most expensive city. The Small Arms Survey’s study of Port Sudan found rents jumped after fighting spread to Al-Jazira state in December 2023. Embassies and companies reportedly pay $10,000–$35,000 a month for whole buildings or villas.
• Khartoum is cheap but rough. Many units rented by returnees have unfinished walls, temporary roofs, or no electricity, according to Radio Dabanga’s August 2026 report.
• Dollar rents don’t fall when the pound falls. Rents quoted in dollars keep their value. Rents quoted in pounds lag behind, which is why pound rents in Khartoum look so low in dollar terms.

Many ordinary buildings in Port Sudan lack steady water and power, so ask about generators, water tanks, and who pays for diesel before you sign.

Food Prices and Groceries

The World Food Programme tracks staple prices across Sudan every month. Its latest published national averages, for April 2026, are below. The dollar column uses the April parallel rate (SDG 4,050), because the pound has fallen a lot since then and pound prices have kept rising.

Source: WFP Sudan Market Monitor, May 2026.

Prices have climbed since. In September 2026, a 50 kg sack of sugar sold for SDG 325,000–460,000 depending on the town and the day. That works out to about SDG 6,500–9,200 per kg (~$0.87–$1.23). A local ratl of coffee cost about SDG 22,000 (~$2.93) in late September.

What this means for your grocery bill:

• Local staples are cheap in dollars. Sorghum, flour, beans, lentils, onions, and seasonal produce cost little if you earn in hard currency.
• Imported goods are expensive. Packaged foods, dairy products, and anything shipped through the Red Sea carry higher transport and insurance costs, which have roughly doubled due to regional shipping disruption.
• Restaurants are limited. Port Sudan has cafés and hotel restaurants that serve foreigners and officials, and prices there often follow dollar costs. Street food such as ful (stewed beans) with bread stays far cheaper.

Fuel, Transport, and Utilities

Fuel is the price that moves everything else, from bus fares to generator power. Early October 2026 prices looked like this:

These figures come from The Rio Times’ October 2026 report on Sudan’s fuel shortage, citing Sudan Times. Shortages are common, and queues at official stations push many drivers to the parallel market.

Getting around. Most people use minibuses, shared taxis, and tuk-tuks (rickshaws). Fares are set informally and rise each time fuel prices jump, so agree on the price before you ride. Ride-hailing apps are limited. Many foreign organizations use their own vehicles and drivers for security.

Electricity and water. Power cuts are frequent in Port Sudan and Khartoum. Residents call them the biggest obstacle to normal life in the capital. Expect to pay for some mix of grid power, generator diesel, and water bought from tankers or market sellers. In Khartoum, families often buy water whose quality is not checked, so budget for bottled or filtered drinking water.

Phone and internet. Mobile data from Zain, MTN, and Sudani is the main way people get online. Service drops in conflict areas, and the Bankak mobile banking app has also suffered outages. If you need reliable connections for work, plan for a backup line or satellite service.

Salaries, Wages, and Affordability

For most Sudanese, income has not kept up with prices. The WFP’s April 2026 data on daily casual labor wages shows how much pay varies by state:

At the national average, a laborer who works 26 days earns about SDG 382,000 (~$51) a month. A basic Khartoum rental at SDG 300,000–600,000 can take most or all of that. Wages rose about 60% in the year to April 2026, roughly in step with the pound’s fall over that period. Since April, though, the pound has lost almost half its value again.

Salaried jobs exist with the government, banks, telecom companies, and aid groups, but public salaries are often paid late, and teachers’ pay has become a crisis in many states. The national minimum wage has not been meaningfully updated for wartime inflation. Many households depend on money sent by relatives abroad. The World Bank’s Sudan data puts GDP per capita at about $1,165 for 2025.

Foreigners working for international organizations or companies are usually paid in dollars, often into accounts outside Sudan. That is what makes Sudan affordable for them and very hard for local earners.

Healthcare and Schools

Healthcare. The war damaged or closed many hospitals, especially in Khartoum and Darfur. Private clinics in Port Sudan and other eastern cities still operate, but supplies run short and fees are often quoted in dollars or at the parallel rate. Foreigners should carry international health insurance that explicitly covers Sudan and includes medical evacuation, since many standard policies exclude countries under a Level 4 advisory. Serious cases are usually flown to Cairo, Jeddah, or Dubai.

Yellow fever and cholera vaccines are recommended for travel to Sudan. Bring a supply of any regular medicines, because pharmacies may not stock them.

Schools. Millions of children have missed school since 2023. Many public schools now charge monthly fees or rely on parent contributions to pay teachers. Most international schools that served Khartoum’s expat community stopped operating there when fighting reached the capital. If you plan to bring children, confirm that a school is open and get current fees in writing.

Taxes, Visas, and Paperwork

Taxes. Sudan charges value-added tax at a standard rate of 17% on most goods and services, according to TaxAtlas’s Sudan VAT summary. Basic food items and exports are zero-rated. Employment income is taxed through payroll, and Muslims may also pay zakat. If you are paid by a foreign employer, ask a tax adviser how your home-country rules apply.

Visas. Almost every foreigner needs a visa before arriving. The Sudanese Embassy in Washington lists these terms for business and official entry visas:

After arrival, you must register with the Aliens Department at the Ministry of Interior within 3 days, with two passport photos and a fee, per the UK government’s entry requirements page. Some larger hotels handle this for guests. Travelers on a single-entry visa may also need an exit visa.

One-Time Setup Costs

Budget for these before your first month:

• Visa: $154 for a business visa through the embassy in Washington. Fees at other embassies vary.
• Aliens registration: a small fee paid within 3 days of arrival.
• Rent in advance: landlords in Port Sudan often ask for several months up front, sometimes in dollars.
• Power and water backup: a generator or solar setup, plus water storage, if the home lacks them.
• Local SIM cards: one from each of two networks gives you a backup when service drops.
• Insurance with evacuation cover: buy it before you travel, since it is hard to arrange once you are in Sudan.
• Cash reserve: clean, recent US dollar notes, since cards rarely work and banking apps can go down.

Sample Monthly Budgets

These estimates are for foreigners paid in dollars and living in Port Sudan. They combine the reported rents above with local food and fuel prices. Treat them as planning ranges, not exact figures, because rents vary widely and prices change weekly.

Local households: a Sudanese family renting a basic home in Khartoum pays about SDG 300,000–600,000 (~$40–$80) in rent, then food, water, and fuel on top. That is more than a full month of casual labor pay at the national average. Many families get by only through remittances, shared housing, or aid.

The lower end of each range assumes a modest furnished unit and local food. The upper end reflects the dollar-priced apartments that organizations and foreign staff compete for.

Money-Saving and Money-Handling Tips

• Bring cash in dollars. International cards rarely work. Carry clean, recent notes and change small amounts at a time.
• Know both rates. Bank rates are roughly half the street rate. Ask which one a price uses before you pay.
• Buy local staples. Sorghum, beans, lentils, and seasonal produce cost far less than imported packaged food.
• Negotiate rent in pounds if you can. Pound rents lose value as the currency falls, while dollar rents do not.
• Share housing. Splitting a furnished apartment in Port Sudan cuts the biggest cost in half.
• Fill up at official stations when fuel is available. The parallel market can charge 60% more.
• Keep a buffer. Prices of sugar and fuel changed by 20% or more in a few days in September 2026.

How Sudan Compares With Nearby Countries

Many Sudanese families moved abroad during the war, and Cairo hosts one of the largest communities. Our guide to the cost of living in Egypt covers rents and prices there. To the south, the cost of living in South Sudan is a separate country with its own currency and much higher imported-goods prices in Juba. For East Africa, compare the cost of living in Ethiopia and the cost of living in Eritrea. To the west, see our Chad cost of living guide, a country that has taken in many refugees from Darfur.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do you need to live in Sudan per month?

A single foreigner in Port Sudan should plan on about $1,100–$2,700 a month, a couple about $1,800–$4,000, and a family of four about $3,000–$6,000. Rent for a furnished home is the biggest cost. Local families live on far less, but most local wages do not cover basic costs.

What is the dollar rate in Sudan in 2026?

On the parallel market, a dollar bought about SDG 7,300–8,400 in September 2026, up from about SDG 565 before the war. Bank rates were lower, at about SDG 3,230–4,370. Most everyday prices follow the parallel rate.

Is it safe to move to Sudan in 2026?

No, not for most people. The US State Department rates Sudan at Level 4: Do Not Travel, and the US Embassy in Khartoum is closed. Fighting continues in Darfur and Kordofan, and even calmer cities face power cuts, shortages, and sudden price jumps.

How much is rent in Port Sudan and Khartoum?

Basic homes rented by returning families in Khartoum cost about SDG 300,000–600,000 (~$40–$80) a month. Port Sudan is much more expensive. Furnished apartments there are often priced in dollars, from about $100 to several thousand dollars a month.

What is the average salary in Sudan?

The WFP’s national average daily wage for casual labor was SDG 14,704 in April 2026. That is about SDG 382,000 (~$51) for a 26-day month at today’s rate. Salaried jobs with banks, telecom firms, and aid groups pay more, but public salaries are often paid late.

Do Americans need a visa for Sudan?

Yes. Americans need a visa before arrival. The Sudanese Embassy in Washington charges a $154 processing fee for business visas and requires a sponsor letter. After arrival, foreigners must register with the Aliens Department within 3 days.

Conclusion

Sudan in 2026 is cheap for people paid in dollars and very hard for people paid in pounds. The pound fell from about SDG 565 per dollar before the war to SDG 7,300–8,400 in September 2026, and inflation was still above 40% in July. A foreigner in Port Sudan should budget about $1,100–$2,700 a month alone, with rent as the swing factor. Before you commit, check the travel advisory, confirm housing with water and backup power, arrange insurance with evacuation cover, and recheck the exchange rate on the day you pay.

Sources

• AllAfrica / Sudan Tribune – Sudanese pound plunges despite government measures, September 2026
• Sudan Tribune – Pound firms on black market, September 20, 2026
• The Rio Times – Sudan pound record low, August 2026
• Sudan Tribune – Inflation slows to 41.61% in July 2026
• Sudan Tribune – Inflation jumps to 51.28% in June 2026
• WFP – Sudan Market Monitor, May 2026
• The Rio Times – Sudan fuel shortage, October 2026
• Radio Dabanga – Returnees face challenges in Khartoum, August 2026
• Small Arms Survey – Port Sudan: displacement and services
• AWP – Displaced Sudanese bemoan soaring rents in Port Sudan
• World Bank Open Data – Sudan
• TaxAtlas – Sudan VAT rates
• Embassy of Sudan, Washington – Entry visa
• AllAfrica – Finance minister on the pound’s fall and shipping costs, September 2026
• GOV.UK – Sudan entry requirements
• US State Department – Sudan travel advisory