Africa · Sub-Saharan
Sudan
Sudan has been in a devastating civil war for several years. Fighting has badly damaged Khartoum and Omdurman, displaced millions and severely affected electricity and telecommunications, so remote work is impractical and governments advise against all travel. Low local prices mean nothing in these conditions. What is on hold is significant: the Nubian pyramids at Meroë form an archaeological landscape that has seen almost no tourists and will have to wait for the war to end.
Nomad quick facts
$1050/mo
$1680/mo
—
3.195 (#189 of 190)
Limited
Nov–Feb
Not available
39.4 / 100
Score breakdown
Ancient Nubian pyramids, long history along the Nile.
Civil war, widespread destruction, humanitarian emergency, non-functioning infrastructure.
Cost of living in Sudan
Sudan has very low local costs for accommodation, food and basic services, but the ongoing conflict makes normal travel and long-term stays highly impractical. Khartoum and other major cities have severely disrupted infrastructure and services. The low headline cost of living should not be interpreted as an indication that Sudan is currently a practical destination.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$1,050/mo
Couple
$1,680/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
88/100
WB PLI
40.3
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in Sudan
Sudan is lacking official internet performance data, while the ongoing war has severely damaged both electricity and telecom infrastructure; frequent blackouts make reliable remote work impractical.
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in Sudan
Sudan has been in an active civil war since April 2023, with fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces devastating Khartoum and Omdurman and displacing millions; this isn't currently a safe or viable destination for nomads.
Global safety rank
#189 of 190
Peace Index score
3.195 (lower = safer)
WJP Rule of Law rank
#133 of 143
WJP Rule of Law score
0.5 (higher = safer)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in Sudan
The Nubian pyramids of Meroë actually outnumber Egypt's, reflecting almost tourist-free archaeology once genuinely worth the trip. Since April 2023, though, a catastrophic civil war has devastated Khartoum, and this isn't a travel or nomad destination in any sense right now.
English Proficiency Index
421.0 (90 out of 106)
Within-city transit
Limited
Between-city transit
Limited
Desert to semi-arid; extremely hot, with brief southern rains Jun–Sep and dusty winds.
Best months: Nov–Feb
Sudan's transit has been devastated by the civil war that erupted in 2023. Before the conflict, Khartoum relied on minibuses, buses and 'amjad' rickshaws, cheap but informal, with a largely defunct railway. Movement is now severely restricted by fighting and displacement across much of the country. Where travel is possible it is by shared vehicle; safety is the overriding concern.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Sudan visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
Visa required — 30 days
Tourism Visa Note
Given the current security/political situation, standard visa process may be unreliable. Consult government travel advisories directly.
Digital nomad visa
No dedicated digital-nomad route
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in Sudan
Tax-residency timing
183 days or more in a period; alternatively presence in the period and both preceding periods totaling 12 months
How the day count works
Presence assessed for a period and preceding periods; temporary absences may be excluded if accepted by the tax authority
Other residency triggers
Taking Sudan as a place of residence and showing intention to settle
Remote work before residence
May be taxable. Income derived from Sudan may be taxed for residents and nonresidents; work physically performed there may be Sudan-source
If you become tax resident
Residents are taxed on income from Sudan and abroad under the Income Tax Act; nonresidents on Sudan-source income
What this usually means for nomads
A stay of 183 days or more can establish residence, and repeated presence over three periods can also qualify. Sudan-source work may be taxable before residence. Intent to settle, local work or repeated stays increase exposure; current filing conditions should be checked.
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Sudan
Khartoum and Omdurman, at the meeting of the two Niles, are heavily damaged. Port Sudan, on the Red Sea, is the main functioning gateway. None is currently advisable to visit.
Capital; at the meeting of the Blue & White Niles; heavily damaged and largely emptied by the ongoing war.
The historic twin city across the Nile (national largest by some counts); old souq & Sufi dervish traditions; also war-hit.
Red Sea port that became the wartime seat of government; the country's main functioning gateway.
A field of steep Nubian pyramids in the desert north; a UNESCO site rivalling Egypt's, almost tourist-free.
Mali
Chad
Cameroon