South Sudan and Angola capital cities most expensive for migrant oil workers

Luanda and Juba, the Angolan and South Sudanese capitals, have now been ranked as two of the most expensive oil and gas hubs for expats.

Several surveys have recently identified African oil and gas towns as more expensive for expat living than any other hydrocarbon destination. The latest ranking, taken from the Mercer Cost of Living Survey, identifies Luanda and Juba as the most and third-most expensive across the board, beating Perth in fifth place.

Whether it’s rental accommodation, eating out or even buying clothes, expat oil and gas workers in the two towns are finding that their lack of local knowledge and their preference for home comforts is costing them dear. Juba in South Sudan, Africa’s newest country, is home to Malaysian, Chinese and Indian oil companies and has seen its cost of living rocket since the small country split off from Sudan proper in 2011.

Another reason for the soaring cost of living index in Juba is the influx of NGOs and United Nations employees, all of whom are looking for upscale accommodation and Western-style food and comfort. The same is applying to Luanda, with a luxury apartment costing almost three times as much per month as a similar property in Sydney, Australia.

To put prices in the two towns even more in a world perspective, a fast-food burger costs $20 and a pair of jeans retails for an unbelievable $204. Would-be expats in the oil and gas sector will need to either negotiate their salaries to cover these and other crazy prices or look for contracts elsewhere.