😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Canada vs $648 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Canada vs $1,129 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,436 per month in Canada vs $1,609 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐Canada costs about 257% more than Sao Tome And Principe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 73% above the global median, while Sao Tome And Principe is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,310–$3,100) than Sao Tome And Principe ($209–$1,087), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44CA$25.53
$20.34STN 427
-9.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5CA$103
$42.40STN 890
75.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88CA$15.07
$9.95STN 209
9.35%
Cappuccino
$3.90CA$5.39
$1.98STN 41.55
96.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16CA$2.99
$1.93STN 40.45
11.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.40
$1.04STN 21.79
66.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.74CA$7.94
$1.62STN 34.00
254.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05CA$8.37
$1.84STN 38.62
228.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20CA$3.05
$1.38STN 29.07
59.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75CA$3.81
$1.54STN 32.38
78.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66CA$5.07
$1.85STN 38.82
97.84%
Eggs
$3.63CA$5.03
$4.37STN 91.9
-16.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.72CA$16.22
$19.68STN 413
-40.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.28CA$17.01
$20.28STN 426
-39.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.88CA$20.60
$25.30STN 531
-41.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14CA$5.73
$4.52STN 94.9
-8.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CA$2.01
$1.14STN 23.96
27.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.25
$3.95STN 83.0
-4.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.66
$3.52STN 74.0
16.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73CA$3.78
$2.53STN 53.2
7.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77CA$3.83
$1.99STN 41.76
39.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62CA$3.62
$0.72STN 15.17
263.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87CA$2.59
$1.91STN 40.15
-2.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79CA$20.48
$2.35STN 49.26
529.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08CA$18.11
$8.19STN 172
59.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.19
$1.28STN 26.84
136.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41CA$4.72
$1.33STN 27.86
156.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52CA$3.49
$1.26STN 26.43
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9CA$108
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49CA$4.83
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48CA$2.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.25CA$39.12
$14.25STN 299
98.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.59
$1.63STN 34.15
-29.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KCA$28.6K
$23.1KSTN 484.8K
-10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155CA$214
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.76CA$63.4
$28.67STN 602
59.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2CA$86.1
$72.6STN 1,524
-14.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.67CA$60.5
$37.58STN 789
16.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14CA$25.11
$28.44STN 597
-36.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38CA$15.76
$20.62STN 433
-44.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$798CA$1,104
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KCA$16.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8CA$78.7
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.19CA$58.4
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.9CA$122
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$147
$19.10STN 401
457.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,359CA$1,882
$266STN 5,579
411.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,204CA$1,667
$192STN 4,025
528.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136CA$2,957
$671STN 14.1K
218.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,860CA$2,575
$512STN 10.7K
263.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,642CA$6,427
$1,937STN 40.7K
139.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,852CA$5,333
$1,177STN 24.7K
227.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,029CA$4,194
$457STN 9,595
562.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
7.38
-14.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sao Tome And Principe: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $171 in Sao Tome And Principe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,500 in Ottawa and $342 in Sao Tome.
💰Average salary: $2,972 in Canada vs $272 in Sao Tome And Principe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 649% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 58% more in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 993% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Canada vs Sao Tome And Principe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Sao Tome And Principe?
Sao Tome And Principe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 240% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sao Tome And Principe, contributing to the overall 240% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Canada or Sao Tome And Principe?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sao Tome And Principe, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Sao Tome And Principe?
Sao Tome And Principe is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.