Visiting South Sudan is a real eye-opener—there’s no place like it on earth. But hows the money in South Sudan? Well, that’s a different story. Let’s just say that the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) is a bit of a mess. At the time of writing, you’re looking at around 6,000 SSP to 1 USD, and the highest note you’ll find is 1,000 SSP, which is less than 20 cents USD. Yeah, it’s tough.
This country is stuck in a cycle of inflation and economic instability, and frankly, it doesn’t look like things are going to improve anytime soon. With a war-ravaged nation, the future of the SSP is shaky at best. But don’t worry, we’ve got some survival tips on how to make it through the financial madness of South Sudan and indeed enjoy traveling here.
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What’s the South Sudanese Pound (SSP)?
The South Sudanese Pound (SSP) was introduced in 2011 after South Sudan broke away from Sudan. For a brief moment, the SSP was pegged at a 1:1 rate to the Sudanese Pound, but you can forget about that now. Thanks to political instability, economic chaos, and the country’s dependency on oil exports, the value of the SSP has tanked.
In fairness, the North Sudanese Pound (SDG) hasn’t fared much better, but that’s little comfort when you’re trying to buy a meal with a mountain of paper that’s practically worthless. While the SSP should be a point of pride for the people, in reality, it’s something even the locals struggle with.
Exchange Rates? Don’t Blink.
If you’re planning on changing money in South Sudan, don’t expect these rates to stay the same for long. They’ll likely have fluctuated by the time you get there. But here’s what you’re working with:
- USD to SSP: 1 USD ≈ 6,000 SSP
- GBP to SSP: 1 GBP ≈ 7,500 SSP
- RMB to SSP: 1 CNY ≈ 800 SSP
- Euro to SSP: 1 EUR ≈ 7,000 SSP
- Kenyan Shilling (KES) to SSP: 1 KES ≈ 11 SSP
As you can see, it’s a painfully low exchange rate. You’ll need a truckload of notes just to make a simple transaction. And don’t even get me started on inflation—by the time you swap your cash, the exchange rate will have probably changed.
Money in South Sudan: A Total Headache
In South Sudan, the currency system is a nightmare. You’ll technically find notes for 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 SSP, but good luck finding anything under 500 SSP. The highest denomination—1,000 SSP—is worth about 16 cents USD, which is rather low. And here’s a fun fact: that 1,000 SSP note is worth less than Syria’s highest denomination, and we all know Syria’s economy isn’t exactly booming.
I remember when we exchanged $1,400 USD for our group. It took up an entire cardboard box. We had to count out stacks of cash just to pay for meals, and even simple transactions felt like a game of “how much money can you carry?”. As walls though we persevered!
Can You Use Credit Cards in South Sudan?
You’ll find a few upscale bars, hotels, and restaurants in South Sudan that technically accept credit cards. However, here’s the catch: South Sudan is heavily sanctioned, and trying to get your card to work here is a gamble.
I tried 5 different cards during my trip. The Yonder card, the supposed “world traveller’s dream,” ended up being a complete waste of time. They refused my transaction with a polite but useless message, “Sorry, we don’t do transactions like this.” The Post Office card gave me the same result, and I didn’t even bother trying Amex. After a lot of frustration, it was my ABA Visa card from Cambodia that finally came through. This though can be affected by use of a good VPN, so again come prepared.
Can You Pay with Foreign Currency in South Sudan?
Here’s the thing: foreign currency is a bit of a puzzle in South Sudan. You can easily change USD into SSP, but if you’re holding on to Euros, Pounds, or even Kenyan Shillings, good luck getting those exchanged. It’s nearly impossible.
On the plus side, many of the upscale restaurants will happily accept USD. In fact, some places even price their menu items in USD, making life a little easier for anyone carrying foreign cash. But here’s the kicker: bring clean, crisp bills. Anything that looks even slightly wrinkled or damaged is useless. South Sudan’s financial system is chaotic enough without throwing in currency that looks like it’s been through a shredder.
Surviving Money in South Sudan
So, while dealing with money in South Sudan is not exactly one of the most fun things that you can do, it is survivable and you can indeed get things done in the country.
You will though have to get used to measuring and weighing your money because counting it is not exactly an easy task. You’ll also need to be prepared to deal with inflation and potentially even a currency re-denomination in the future. Until then, having a big stack of clean USD is your best bet for surviving financially in South Sudan.
Overall though the money in South Sudan while a bit of an annoyance is also to a degree a part of the char, too. Click the link to check out our South Sudan Tours.
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