How South Sudan compares across key indices
Cost of Living
83 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
25/100
Healthcare
25/100
Quality of Life
35/200
How far your money goes in South Sudan
Cost of Living
83
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
62
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
83
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
87
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in South Sudan - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
25/100
Crime Index
80/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
South Sudan has 16 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,645 in Pajok to $2,057 in Juba. Winejok leads on safety, scoring 25/100. Juba ranks highest for quality of life at 45/200.
Pajok
$1,645/mo
Winejok
25/100
Juba
45/200
Juba
34/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juba | $2,057 | 22/100 | 45/200 | 34/100 | 65 |
| Winejok | $1,803 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 27/100 | 61 |
| Yei | $1,790 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 27/100 | 60 |
| Malakal | $1,748 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 25/100 | 58 |
| Wau | $1,728 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 25/100 | 57 |
| Kuacjok | $1,684 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 23/100 | 55 |
| Pajok | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Gogrial | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Yambio | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Aweil | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Rumbek | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Bor | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Torit | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Leer | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Tonj | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
| Kafia Kingi | $1,645 | 25/100 | 45/200 | 22/100 | 54 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare system overview for South Sudan
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in South Sudan
Pollution Index
61/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
30.7ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0β100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in South Sudan, answered with data
South Sudan has a cost of living index of 83 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,728 in Wau and reach $2,057 in Juba.
Wau is the most affordable city in South Sudan in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,728 for a single person including rent. Malakal is the next most affordable at $1,748/mo.
South Sudan has a safety index of 25/100, making it worth researching carefully before committing for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Winejok scores highest on safety at 25/100.
Juba ranks highest for quality of life in South Sudan, scoring 45/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $2,057/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Wau offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,728/mo.
South Sudan scores 25/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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