Sudan
Profiled in Khartoum · North Africa
A dusty desert capital built where the Blue and White Nile meet, once warm and easygoing but now hollowed out by war.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Prices look low on paper, but the pound has collapsed and hyperinflation makes any figure unstable. The war has wrecked supply chains, so cash, fuel and basics are scarce and real costs swing wildly.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Khartoum
- Al-Mogran confluenceThe point where the Blue Nile and White Nile join, the geographic heart of the city.
- Tuti IslandA green farming island sitting in the middle of the confluence, reached by a suspension bridge.
- Sudan National MuseumHome to Nubian antiquities and rescued temples, though it was looted and damaged during the fighting.
- Hamed al-Nil tombThe Omdurman shrine where Sufi dervishes traditionally gathered to chant and whirl on Friday afternoons.
- Mahdi's tombThe silver-domed mausoleum of the Mahdi in Omdurman, a landmark of Sudanese history.
- Khalifa House MuseumThe former home of the Mahdist ruler, now a museum of that era, facing the Mahdi's tomb.
- Omdurman souqOne of the largest traditional markets in the country, known for silver, crafts and spices.
- Nile StreetThe riverside corniche in central Khartoum, lined with palms and government buildings.
- Republican PalaceThe historic presidential palace on the Blue Nile, with an adjoining museum in a former church.
- Botanical GardenA quiet green retreat near the university, a rare shady space in the hot city.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- Meroe pyramidsSteep-sided Nubian pyramids of the Kush kingdom at Bagrawiyah, in the desert north of the capital.
- Sabaloka and the Sixth CataractA rocky gorge where the Nile squeezes through hills, a classic day and overnight escape north of Khartoum.
- Naqa and Musawwarat es-SufraRemote Kushite temple ruins in the Butana desert, among Sudan's finest ancient sites.
- Jebel Aulia DamAn old dam on the White Nile south of the city, long a spot for fishing and riverside picnics.
- Jebel Barkal and KarimaA sacred flat-topped mountain and pyramid field up the Nile near Karima, a UNESCO site worth the long drive.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Ozone CafeA long-popular open-air cafe in the Amarat district, a social hub for coffee and shisha.
- SolitaireA well-known cafe and casual spot favoured by Khartoum's professionals and students.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Papa CostaA historic Greek-Sudanese restaurant, one of the oldest dining rooms in the city.
- AssahaA Lebanese heritage-style restaurant serving mezze in a traditional village setting.
Residency
Sudan has no functioning investor or residency-by-investment route, and visas are hard to obtain during the conflict. Most foreign missions have suspended services and advise against all travel.
Tax
Personal income tax rates are nominally modest, but the tax system barely functions amid the war and currency collapse. Any planning here is theoretical until the country stabilises.
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Sudan tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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