Sudan at a Glance Compare Sudan with

Considering a career with the UN or another international organization in Sudan? This profile covers cost of living and purchasing power, the ICSC hardship classification and human development — so you know what living there really means. For pay by grade, see the Salary & Benefits tab.

Capital
Khartoum
Currency
Pound (SDG)
Region
Africa
Languages
Arabic, English, FIA
Area
1,861,484 km²
Calling code
+249
Cost of Living
53 / 100 (US = 100)
local spending goes
1.9× as far as in the US
rising · price level vs US, 2016–2025 (23.1 → 53.1)

Everyday prices in Sudan are roughly 53% of US levels — so local-currency spending goes about 1.9× as far. This is the World Bank price-level index: a national average of consumer prices measured against the US as a whole (US = 100) — a country-level figure, not tied to a specific city or to New York. (World Bank, 2026.)

How this relates to your UN pay. For internationally-recruited (P / D) staff, it's the UN's post adjustment — set against New York, not the US average (here about 43%) — that governs your purchasing power, so don't add the saving above on top. For locally-recruited (GS / NO) staff, paid in local currency with no post adjustment, this index is the better lifestyle guide.
How this is measured (World Bank ICP)
Real UN Purchasing Power UNjobnet estimate
106 / 100 (New York = 100)
6% further than New York

For internationally-recruited (P / D) staff, net pay — base salary plus post adjustment — stretches about 6% further against local prices in Sudan than in New York.

How we work this out. Net-pay index (1 + post adjustment) ÷ an effective price level — about half local prices, half internationally-priced goods (housing, imports, schooling), since staff don't buy everything locally — indexed so that New York = 100. Inputs here: post adjustment 43%, World Bank price level 53 (US = 100), New York post adjustment 76%.

A UNjobnet estimate from UN ICSC post adjustment and World Bank price levels. Because post adjustment equalises an international-staff basket across duty stations, the gain shows up mostly on local goods and services — so we assume staff spend about half locally and half on internationally-priced goods (housing to international standard, imports, schooling), which keeps the estimate realistic where local prices are very low. It uses Sudan's national price level and its main duty station's post adjustment, so treat it as a guide, not a payslip.

See how Sudan ranks among all UN duty stations →
Is This the Right Posting for You? UNjobnet estimate

Two quick reads that pull the picture together — one for bringing family, one for the practical difficulty of relocating — built on the ICSC hardship classification for Sudan.

Family posting suitability
Non-family duty station

Dependants may not accompany staff at a non-family duty station. Internationally recruited staff receive a non-family allowance (about $19,800/year with eligible dependants, $7,500 without).

Highest hardship (E) Non-family Danger pay
Relocation difficulty
A very demanding move

How demanding the practical move is likely to be — the hardship category alongside everyday infrastructure. The UN's relocation entitlements (shipping, DSA, settling-in grant, rental subsidy) are designed to offset this.

Highest hardship (E)

How we calculate these. Both begin with the ICSC hardship category — the UN's own assessment of living and working conditions — refined by child-health and safety indicators (family suitability) and infrastructure access (relocation difficulty). These are national estimates, not verdicts: each duty station has its own security, medical and family arrangements.

Human Development & Society
Low Human Development
0.511 HDI rank #176 of 193
66
Life expectancy (yrs)
$2,810
GNI / capita
4
Mean yrs schooling
8.6
Expected yrs schooling

The UNDP Human Development Index combines health, education and income; Sudan is in the low band — a signal of living conditions, services and schooling for staff and family. UNDP data