South Sudan Food Basket Costs Hold Steady as Regional Prices Fluctuate
Credit: Cordaid
The average cost of a monthly food basket in South Sudan remained unchanged during the first week of August, although sharp price increases and declines were recorded across several regional markets, according to the latest World Food Programme (WFP) market update.
The WFP Weekly Market Monitor for Aug. 3–9, 2026, put the national average cost of the food basket at 127,626 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per person, unchanged from the previous week.
The stable national average, however, masked significant differences among markets. Food prices increased in Upper Nile, Warrap and Western Equatoria states, while consumers in Central Equatoria and Unity states recorded notable price declines.
Some of the largest weekly price increases were reported in Renk, where the price of sukuma wiki rose by 80%, sorghum increased by 27% and beans by 17%.
In Torit, wheat flour prices increased by 29%, while salt prices rose by 50%. In Leer, the price of vegetable oil doubled, representing a 100% weekly increase.
Other markets recorded significant declines. In Juba, bean prices fell by 33%, goat meat by 30% and salt by 20%.
The South Sudanese pound remained relatively stable on the parallel foreign exchange market compared with the previous week, but substantial differences persisted between regions.
Parallel-market exchange rates ranged from about SSP 6,500 per U.S. dollar in Old Fangak to SSP 8,000 per dollar in Bentiu and Rubkona, highlighting continued regional disparities in currency markets.
The official exchange rate was devalued by 8% during the week, a move that narrowed the gap between the official rate and parallel-market rates.
Fuel prices provided some stability during the reporting period. Average prices remained unchanged week-on-week at both formal service stations and informal markets.
The latest figures indicate that while national food costs have remained broadly stable, households in several parts of the country continue to face significant fluctuations in the prices of essential commodities and differences in purchasing power driven by regional market and currency conditions.
