Bamako vs Khartoum Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Bamako vs Khartoum: everyday costs favor Khartoum (~19% CPI gap), housing index favors Khartoum, wage stretch favors Bamako. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Khartoum
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Internet (31% gap, Khartoum ahead); Transport (23% gap, Khartoum ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $95 lower in Khartoum than in Bamako (~19% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $95 (favoring Khartoum).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Khartoum | CPI 18.1 vs 22.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Khartoum | Rent index 10.6 vs 13 (lower is better) |
| Food | Khartoum | Groceries index 28.1 vs 31.3 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Khartoum | One-way ticket 187.92 vs 245.22 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Khartoum | Utilities (85m²) 12720 vs 15704 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Khartoum | Internet 8148 vs 11880.68 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Khartoum | Restaurant index 18 vs 22 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Bamako | Avg net salary 587933.6 vs 498480 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Bamako | PP index 15.7 vs 13.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Internet: Khartoum leads with a 31% gap.
Internet 8148 vs 11880.68 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Khartoum — Lower housing / rent index (18% gap).
- Families: Khartoum — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Khartoum; purchasing power favors Bamako.
- Remote Workers: Khartoum — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Khartoum (~19% gap).
- Budget Living: Khartoum — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Khartoum is the overall cost winner on CPI (~19% lower everyday-cost index than Bamako).
- Housing: Khartoum leads on rent index (18% gap).
- Food / groceries: Khartoum is lower (10% gap).
- Purchasing power: Bamako scores higher (15% gap).
- Largest category gap: Internet (31%), favoring Khartoum.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$95 cheaper in Khartoum.
Analysis
Bamako versus Khartoum is not a single number. With a 19% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Khartoum, while housing follows Khartoum's rent index. Purchasing power (15.7 vs 13.4) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-22
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.