Sudan
Data updated Jul 8, 2026
Overall Score
10.0
Challenging
Avg. Rent (1BR)
$686
-60% vs US Avg
Safety Index
22.4
COL Index
20
Level 4 — Do Not Travel
Please check the latest official travel advisories for Sudan before planning your trip.
Sudan is not a retirement destination, a remote work base, or a FIRE candidate. The U.S. State Department has it at Level 4 - Do Not Travel - the same category as active war zones, because Sudan is an active war zone. The civil war that broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over 10 million, and reduced large parts of Khartoum to rubble. There is no income level or lifestyle preference that makes relocating here a rational choice for an American expat right now. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended operations in April 2023 and has not fully reopened. If something goes wrong, there is no consular assistance waiting for you.
The cost numbers from Numbeo show roughly $550 per month for a single person excluding rent, with a one-bedroom in a city center running around $686. That brings a basic monthly budget to somewhere around $1,200 to $1,300. On paper that looks cheap. In practice, those figures are nearly meaningless. The Sudanese pound has collapsed repeatedly since 2019, inflation ran above 300% in some periods, and the war has disrupted supply chains for food, fuel, and medicine across much of the country. What was priced in Khartoum before the fighting started does not reflect what it costs to live there now, assuming you could live there safely at all. The healthcare index sits at 20.7 out of 100, which ranked Sudan near the very bottom globally even before the conflict destroyed a significant share of functioning hospitals.
The practical friction goes far beyond bureaucracy or language barriers. Arabic is the dominant language, English proficiency is low, and the banking system was already under severe strain from U.S. sanctions that have been in place for decades. Sudan was only removed from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 2020, and the financial infrastructure never caught up before the war disrupted it further. Internet connectivity data from Speedtest returned no rankable data for Sudan, which tells you something concrete about infrastructure reliability. Power outages were endemic before 2023. The fighting has made electricity, clean water, and fuel intermittent or unavailable in major urban areas. Medical evacuation, which is the baseline safety net for any expat operating in a fragile state, is extremely difficult to execute given the security situation and airport access.
For a U.S. citizen, the standard tax obligations apply regardless of where you live. You file with the IRS every year on worldwide income, full stop. Sudan has no tax treaty with the United States, so there is no treaty framework to reduce double taxation. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is available if you meet the bona fide residence or physical presence test, letting you exclude up to $126,500 of earned income for 2024. The Foreign Tax Credit can offset Sudanese taxes paid against your U.S. liability. The practical problem is that none of this matters because the premise of the question - an American living and working in Sudan - is one the State Department is explicitly telling you not to act on.
Recommended Destinations in Sudan
Best for Retirees
Best for Geoarbitrage
Best for Remote Workers
- Capital
- Khartoum
- Official Language
- Arabic, English
- Time Zone
- UTC+03:00
- Region
- Africa
- Population
- 43,849,269
- Healthcare Index
- 20.7
- Internet Speed
- 57.55 Mbps
- Climate Zones
- arid
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Explore data visually
🏙️ Top Cities in Sudan
Explore cost of living, walkability scores, and expat ratings for individual cities in Sudan.
CoL Index: 29
Est. Total: ~$850/mo
CoL Index: 20
Est. Total: ~$500/mo
CoL Index: 39
Est. Total: ~$1,250/mo
How far does $1,500 go in Sudan?
With a monthly budget of $1,500, you can live comfortably in Sudan. After accounting for an average rent of $$686, you have approximately $814remaining for daily expenses.
Calculate your FIRE timeline with these costs →💰 Cost of Living in Sudan
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means it's cheaper.
Cost Comparison Notes:
Summary of cost of living in Sudan: The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are $1,998.8, excluding rent. The estimated monthly costs for a single person are $550.0, excluding rent.
🛒 Grocery & Family Costs
Family Costs
Can I afford to live in Sudan?
Comfortable (1.0×): balanced baseline lifestyle. Adjusts day-to-day costs only — rent is unaffected.
Sudan
You could save
1,764/mo
Monthly Costs
Attractiveness Scores
Based on national averages. City-level costs may vary. Browse cities in Sudan →
⚕️ Healthcare System
Our Top Pick for Nomads: SafetyWing
Flexible, subscription-based health cover for remote workers in Sudan.
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An estimation of the overall quality of the health care system. Higher is better.
Quality & Affordability:
Sudan's public sector health system has a three-tiered structure managed by federal and state ministries of health. However, the system faces challenges due to ongoing conflicts, leading to damaged facilities and reduced services.
Insurance Insights:
Private health insurance is advisable to ensure access to better-quality care and cover potential medical evacuations.
🛂 Visa & Residency Pathways
🛂 Visa Services
Ready to apply for a Sudan visa?
Get help with your application — tourist, long-stay, and residency visas processed online.
General Overview
Process & Requirements:
Due to the outbreak of widespread armed conflict in 2023, Sudan does not have a functioning, safe, or predictable immigration system. The 'difficult' score reflects the reality of an active war zone. State institutions, including immigration services, are severely disrupted or non-operational in many parts of the country. Foreign embassies have evacuated, and international travel is subject to extreme risk and warnings. There is no viable way for a foreign national to seek or obtain long-term residency at this time. Any pre-existing legal frameworks are currently irrelevant due to the conflict.
Residency & Citizenship Notes:
There is no viable pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. The state institutions that would manage such processes are not functioning. Long-term settlement in Sudan is not a feasible or safe option for the foreseeable future.
🛂 Visa Matcher
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Detailed Visa Options
🧳 Tourist & Short-Stay Information
Extension Notes
Due to the current conflict, regular immigration services are not functioning. Source: N/A
General Visa Notes
US citizens require a visa. However, the Embassy of Sudan in Washington, D.C. has suspended services due to the ongoing conflict. The U.S. Department of State advises against all travel. Source: U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory.
🌴 Retirement / Passive Income Visa
This country does not have a dedicated retirement visa, but the following notes provide guidance on pathways for retirees.
Income Notes
Sudan does not have a retirement visa program. The ongoing conflict makes any form of long-term residency for this purpose impossible.
Health Insurance Notes
Sudan does not have a retirement visa program. The ongoing conflict makes any form of long-term residency for this purpose impossible and standard procedures are not in place. Source: General travel advisories.
💻 Digital Nomad Visa
Income Notes
Sudan does not have a digital nomad visa. The current conflict and severe political instability have disrupted normal consular services, and there is no framework for independent remote workers. Source: Most government travel advisories.
📈 Investor Visa
Investment Details
Investment Options & Notes
Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan does not have a functioning investor visa program. Source: N/A
Path to Citizenship
🛡️ Safety & Stability
An estimation of overall safety level. Higher is better.
An estimation of the overall level of crime. Lower is better.
World Bank political stability estimate, rescaled to 0-100. Higher is better.
Safety Notes:
Crime Rate: High. Active conflict zones exacerbate risks of violence and lawlessness.
Types of Crime: Armed robbery, carjacking, and terrorism-related activities.
Kidnapping Risk: High; frequent in conflict areas, particularly Darfur and border regions.
🏦 Taxation & Finance
🏦 Tax Snapshot
FEIE Interaction
FTC Utility: low
Sudan's personal income tax rates top out at 20%, which is below the US top marginal rate, limiting the foreign tax credit offset. tax collection infrastructure is largely non-functional due to the ongoing civil conflict, meaning actual tax payments to Sudan are uncommon. US taxpayers are more likely to use the FEIE than the FTC.
Presence Day Count Notes
Standard 330-day physical presence test applies. Sudan has a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory from the US State Department as of 2024-2025 due to the ongoing civil conflict. The IRS may grant relief under the waiver of time requirements for taxpayers who must leave a country due to war or civil unrest; Form 2555 instructions describe this provision and Sudan has historically qualified for such waivers.
FBAR Trigger Notes
FBAR filing is required for any US person with financial accounts in Sudan exceeding USD 10,000 aggregate at any point during the year. Sudan's banking system has been severely disrupted since April 2023; many accounts may be inaccessible but reporting obligations remain.
401k/IRA Treatment
Pension Income
Foreign pension income is treated as ordinary income subject to the progressive tax schedule up to 20%. No treaty protection applies.
Locally TaxedSocial Security
No US-Sudan tax treaty or totalization agreement exists. US Social Security benefits received by a Sudan resident are theoretically subject to Sudan income tax, but practical enforcement is absent.
Locally TaxedRoth Distributions
No treaty exists to exempt Roth distributions. In principle taxable as foreign income, though enforcement capacity is negligible under current conditions.
Locally TaxedUS 401k/IRA Distributions
The US and Sudan do not have a bilateral income tax treaty. US retirement distributions received by a Sudan-resident individual would in principle be treated as foreign-source income subject to Sudan personal income tax at progressive rates up to 20%. Practical enforcement is extremely limited given ongoing conflict and institutional breakdown.
Locally TaxedCapital Gains Tax
Sudan does not have a standalone capital gains tax regime. Gains from asset disposals are generally treated as ordinary income and taxed at the top personal income tax rate of 20%. Corporate gains are included in business income subject to the corporate tax rate of 35%. Tax administration has been significantly disrupted since the April 2023 conflict; enforcement is limited.
No separate capital gains tax exists in Sudan. Capital gains are folded into ordinary taxable income. For individuals the top rate is 20%; for companies gains are taxed as part of business profits at up to 35%.
Dividend Tax Rate
Dividends paid by Sudanese companies are subject to withholding tax. The standard rate is 15% on dividends paid to resident and non-resident recipients. Sudan has few active double-tax treaties that would reduce this rate for US persons. Practical enforcement has been severely disrupted since the outbreak of the 2023 civil conflict.
withholding
Rate: 15.0%
Standard withholding tax rate on dividends paid to both residents and non-residents.
Tax Treaties Notes:
No US-Sudan tax treaty. Sanctions and conflict disrupt tax systems.
Retiree Tax Benefits:
Extreme risk; retirement impossible.
Cost Savings vs. U.S.:
Hyperinflation and scarcity make costs volatile.
Recommended services for Sudan
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IBKR →Recommended Partner
bordr →Recommended Partner
My Expat Taxes →☀️ Climate & Environment
Climate Zones:
Our proprietary index for drinking water quality and sanitation. Higher is better.
Seasonal Variations:
Sudan experiences a desert climate in the north and a tropical climate in the south. The rainy season occurs from June to September, with the rest of the year being predominantly dry.
😊 Quality of Life
Cultural Amenities:
Museums & Cultural Institutions
Sudan is home to several museums, including the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum, which showcases the country's rich history and archaeological finds.
The Khalifa House Museum in Omdurman offers insights into Sudanese culture and the Mahdist period.
Performing Arts
Sudan has a vibrant music scene, with traditional genres like Al-Mahrajan and modern pop influencing the cultural landscape.
The Sudanese National Theatre in Khartoum hosts various performances, including plays and musical shows.
Cultural Festivals
The Sudanese Independence Day on January 1st is celebrated with various cultural events and performances.
The Khartoum International Film Festival showcases films from Sudan and around the world.
Culinary Culture
Sudanese cuisine includes dishes like ful medames (stewed fava beans), kisra (fermented bread), and tagine.
The country's cuisine reflects its diverse ethnic groups and regional influences.
🌐 Infrastructure & Connectivity
Our proprietary ranking of public transit accessibility and reliability.
Internet Reliability:
Sudan has limited internet infrastructure with significant challenges due to political instability and economic issues.
Speed & Quality: Fixed broadband averages around 18 Mbps where available, primarily in Khartoum.
Availability: Limited infrastructure, concentrated in major cities. Rural areas have minimal coverage.
Cost: Expensive and subject to economic instability, typically $20-50/month.
Reliability for Remote Work: Challenging for remote work due to limited infrastructure, slow speeds, and political instability affecting service reliability.
Transportation Network:
Sudan has deteriorating transportation infrastructure affected by economic crisis, sanctions, and ongoing conflict.
Roads: Road network exists but maintenance is poor and many routes are unsafe due to conflict.
Rail: Extensive rail network but aging equipment and poor maintenance affect reliability.
Domestic Travel: Limited domestic flights due to economic issues; most transport relies on buses and trains with poor conditions.
Recommended services for Sudan
Recommended Partner
Traveling Mailbox →Recommended Partner
US Global Mail →Recommended Partner
HideMy.Name →Recommended Partner
Veepn →Frequently Asked Questions about Sudan
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