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