Sudanese teachers’ salaries cover only 4.2% of living costs, study finds

June 29, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – A study published by the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee on Monday revealed that a teacher’s salary covers just 4.2% of basic living costs, prompting calls for an urgent increase in the minimum wage.

The findings come amid a sustained decline in the local currency in parallel markets, where the US dollar trades above 5,000 Sudanese pounds, even as the government shows little interest in raising state employees’ salaries.

In a statement outlining the data, the committee noted that the minimum cost of living for a family of five in Khartoum State has reached 3,435,000 Sudanese pounds per month.

According to the study, the salary of a third-grade teacher covers only 4.2% of these living expenses, highlighting a massive gap between current wages and the minimum needed to meet basic living expenses.

Civil service grades in Sudan begin at the 17th grade for manual workers, while bachelor’s degree holders start at the ninth grade. Employees gradually progress to the third grade, which marks the beginning of ranks for experts, inspectors, and executive directors.

A teacher typically reaches the third grade after more than 20 years of service.

The study assumes that the family lives in a rented home and that the children attend public schools. It includes the costs of electricity, cooking gas, food, and medical treatment, while excluding emergency and luxury expenses.

The provided data breakdown of the study shows that major monthly expenditures include 900,000 pounds for lunch, 600,000 pounds for breakfast, and 600,000 pounds for transportation. Rent accounts for 300,000 pounds, while bread costs another 300,000 pounds monthly. Medical treatment is estimated at 150,000 pounds, milk at 120,000 pounds, sugar and tea at 120,000 pounds, and cooking gas at 115,000 pounds.

Other monthly costs include 100,000 pounds for clothing, 50,000 pounds for education, 50,000 pounds for cleaning supplies, and 30,000 pounds for electricity.

The committee’s data show that the average daily expenditure for a five-member family is 114,500 Sudanese pounds.

Consequently, the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee demanded that the minimum wage be raised from 12,000 Sudanese pounds to 313,500 Sudanese pounds.

Teachers in several states have recently gone on strike to pressure the government to increase their salaries and fulfil their financial entitlements.