By Josephine Sesay

In the busy markets of Freetown, the rising sun usually brings the sound of bargaining voices, traders arranging their goods, and customers searching for the best prices. But in recent months, those voices have carried a different tone, one of frustration, worry, and disbelief.

Across Sierra Leone, the cost of living has reached levels that many families can no longer manage. Prices of fuel and basic food commodities have steadily increased, while wages and incomes for most citizens remain stagnant. The result is a growing economic crisis that is changing how people live, eat, and survive.

For thousands of households, the simple question of what to eat tomorrow has become a daily source of anxiety.

Fuel Prices Climb and Trigger Economic Pressure

One of the most visible drivers of the cost-of-living crisis has been the rise in fuel prices. Not long ago, petrol in Sierra Leone sold for around Le 25 per litre. The price later rose to Le 28, and most recently it increased again to approximately Le 32 per litre.

While fuel price adjustments are often explained by global oil market fluctuations, exchange rate pressures, and import costs, the impact on ordinary citizens is immediate and severe.

Fuel is at the heart of the country’s economic activity. When the price increases, transportation costs rise almost instantly. Commercial drivers increase fares to cover their expenses, traders pay more to transport goods from rural farms to city markets, and businesses raise prices to offset operational costs.

This chain reaction means that the price of almost every commodity, from rice to vegetables, eventually goes up.

For a taxi driver in Freetown, the new fuel price means spending far more money just to keep the vehicle running. What once provided enough income to support a family now barely covers daily fuel costs.

“Before, after buying fuel I could still make something small for my family,” one driver explained. “Now everything goes back into the car.”

Food Prices Rising Beyond the Reach of Many

While fuel prices have increased, food prices have risen even more dramatically. In markets across the country, the cost of essential commodities continues to climb, leaving many families unable to afford the foods they once relied on daily.

Rice, the country’s most important staple food, has become increasingly expensive. A bag of rice that once sold for a fraction of its current cost now requires a significant portion of a worker’s monthly income.

Palm oil, pepper, onions, fish, and other common ingredients used in everyday cooking have also seen sharp increases. Traders often explain that transportation costs, import expenses, and currency depreciation are making it harder for them to maintain lower prices.

But for consumers, these explanations do little to ease the burden.

At a crowded market stall in Freetown, a mother of four stands quietly examining a small pile of vegetables. She counts the money in her hand repeatedly before selecting only a few items.

“What I used to buy for one day now has to last two days,” she says softly.

Across the country, stories like hers are becoming more common.

When Three Meals Become a Luxury

Perhaps the most painful impact of the cost-of-living crisis is being felt inside family homes.

For generations, the expectation in many households was simple: three meals a day. Breakfast before work or school, lunch during the day, and dinner in the evening when families gathered together.

Today, that routine is disappearing.

Many families now eat two meals per day, while some households struggle to afford even one full meal daily. Parents often skip meals themselves so their children can eat.

Breakfast is often the first sacrifice. Instead of food, some people begin their day with only water or tea. Lunch may be a small portion of rice shared among several people. Dinner, if available, is carefully rationed.

Nutrition experts warn that such patterns can lead to long-term health consequences, especially for children. Reduced food intake can affect growth, learning ability, and overall well-being.

But for families facing immediate financial pressure, survival today takes priority over concerns about tomorrow.

Wages That Cannot Keep Up

While the prices of goods and services continue to rise, wages have not increased at the same pace.

Many workers in Sierra Leone earn modest incomes that were already stretched thin even before the recent wave of inflation. Civil servants, teachers, small traders, and informal workers all face the same challenge: their earnings remain almost the same while the cost of living keeps rising.

This growing gap between income and expenses is pushing many households deeper into financial distress.

In urban areas like Freetown, the cost of rent, transportation, food, and electricity can consume nearly all of a family’s income. After paying these expenses, very little remains for savings, healthcare, or emergencies.

As a result, some families rely on borrowing money from friends or relatives. Others take on additional informal work to survive.

Young people are particularly affected. Many graduates struggle to find stable employment, while those already working often discover that their salaries cannot sustain even the most basic lifestyle.

Market Traders and Small Businesses Also Struggling

The cost-of-living crisis is not only affecting consumers. Market traders and small business owners are also facing significant challenges.

Traders often depend on customers who buy goods daily. But as prices rise, many buyers reduce their purchases or stop buying certain items entirely.

A vegetable seller explains that people who once bought large quantities now buy only small portions.

“Customers come and ask for prices,” she says. “When they hear the amount, they shake their heads and walk away.”

For small businesses, declining customer spending means lower sales and reduced profits. Some traders report losing money when perishable goods spoil before they can be sold.

The economic pressure spreads across every level of the marketplace.

Rural Communities Feel the Impact Too

Although urban markets often receive the most attention, rural communities are also affected by the rising cost of living.

Farmers face increasing expenses for transportation, farming tools, fertilizers, and fuel for machinery. When these costs rise, agricultural production becomes more expensive.

Some farmers struggle to transport their harvests to markets because transportation fees have increased. Others face challenges purchasing the supplies they need to maintain their farms.

Ironically, even in farming communities where food is produced, families are not immune to rising prices.

When crops are sold to generate income, the money earned must stretch across many other rising costs.

Inflation and Currency Pressures

Economists point to several factors contributing to the current inflation crisis.

One major issue is the depreciation of the national currency against major foreign currencies. Because Sierra Leone imports many essential goods, including fuel, rice, and other food products, the weakening currency makes imports more expensive.

Global economic trends have also played a role. Rising fuel prices internationally, supply chain disruptions, and broader inflation pressures have affected many countries.

However, for Sierra Leone, where many people already live close to the poverty line, these global pressures have particularly severe consequences.

The Human Face of the Crisis

Behind every statistic about inflation lies a human story.

It is the story of a mother dividing a small pot of rice among several children.

It is the story of a driver who works longer hours just to earn the same income he once made easily.

It is the story of a student trying to concentrate in school despite hunger.

Across Sierra Leone, these stories are becoming more common as families struggle to adapt to the rising cost of living.

Many citizens now repeat a phrase that captures their frustration and pain:

“The cost of living is killing the living.” Searching for a Way Forward

Addressing the cost-of-living crisis will require coordinated action across multiple sectors. Experts suggest several possible strategies, including increasing local agricultural production, reducing dependence on food imports, stabilizing the national currency, and creating more employment opportunities.

Investments in farming infrastructure, transportation networks, and small business development could help strengthen the country’s economic resilience.

However, such solutions take time.

In the meantime, ordinary citizens continue to navigate the daily reality of rising prices and shrinking incomes.

For many families, the immediate challenge remains simple but urgent: finding enough food, enough money, and enough hope to make it through another day.

As the markets open each morning and traders arrange their goods, the same question echoes quietly across homes and communities throughout the country:

How long can people continue to survive like this?

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 11th March 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)