Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Sao Tome And Principe Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Sao Tome And Principe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,319 per month in Canada vs $643 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Canada vs $1,135 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,437 per month in Canada vs $1,627 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.

The cost of living in Canada is about 261% higher than in Sao Tome And Principe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 74% above the global median, while Sao Tome And Principe is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($1,332$3,143) than in Sao Tome And Principe ($205$1,081), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.63 CA$26.21
$19.98 STN 430
-6.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 CA$104
$43.33 STN 932
70.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 CA$15.37
$9.55 STN 205
14.35%
Cappuccino
$3.76 CA$5.29
$2.00 STN 43.00
88.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 CA$3.08
$1.88 STN 40.49
16.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.44
$1.03 STN 22.25
68.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 CA$8.34
$1.64 STN 35.19
261.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 CA$8.38
$1.86 STN 39.98
219.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 CA$3.21
$1.36 STN 29.28
67.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.76
$1.56 STN 33.44
71.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 CA$5.32
$1.94 STN 41.81
94.85%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.92
$4.40 STN 94.7
-20.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.70 CA$16.46
$20.26 STN 436
-42.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.30 CA$17.31
$19.88 STN 427
-38.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.44 CA$21.73
$25.18 STN 541
-38.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.02
$4.50 STN 96.7
-4.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$1.13 STN 24.21
28.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.01 CA$5.64
$3.99 STN 85.9
0.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 CA$6.00
$3.41 STN 73.2
25.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.78
$2.62 STN 56.3
2.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.72
$2.08 STN 44.79
27.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 CA$3.71
$0.67 STN 14.37
294.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 CA$2.66
$1.98 STN 42.51
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.77 CA$20.78
$2.27 STN 48.89
550.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.32 CA$18.74
$7.96 STN 171
67.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 CA$4.17
$1.27 STN 27.33
133.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 CA$4.61
$1.29 STN 27.65
154.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.68
$1.20 STN 25.90
118.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.1 CA$110
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 CA$4.81
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.10
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.07 CA$40.91
$14.20 STN 305
104.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$1.70 STN 36.45
-29.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K CA$28.9K
$23.3K STN 501.3K
-11.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 CA$213
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.70 CA$65.7
$28.12 STN 604
66.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 CA$87.0
$70.6 STN 1,519
-12.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.36 CA$61.0
$36.44 STN 784
18.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.05 CA$25.40
$29.37 STN 632
-38.54%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 CA$16.19
$20.81 STN 447
-44.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$806 CA$1,134
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K CA$17.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 CA$77.9
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.80 CA$58.8
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 CA$126
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$149
$18.70 STN 402
466.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,329 CA$1,870
$275 STN 5,916
383.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 CA$1,698
$188 STN 4,033
543.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 CA$2,972
$659 STN 14.2K
220.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 CA$2,579
$529 STN 11.4K
246.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,639 CA$6,527
$1,889 STN 40.6K
145.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,849 CA$5,415
$1,170 STN 25.2K
228.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,948 CA$4,148
$442 STN 9,506
566.78%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome And Principe: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $177 in Sao Tome And Principe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,481 in Ottawa and $353 in Sao Tome.

Average salary: $2,904 in Canada vs $265 in Sao Tome And Principe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 624% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 58% more in Canada.

Salaries are 996% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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 248% 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 248% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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.

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