Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Verde and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Verde and China

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $527 per month in Cape Verde vs $712 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $879 per month in Cape Verde vs $1,131 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,230 per month in Cape Verde vs $1,550 in China, rent included.

The cost of living in Cape Verde is roughly 26% lower than in China on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Cape Verde and China are more affordable than the global median – Cape Verde 61% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 CVE 492
$2.86 ¥19.35
78.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 CVE 4,986
$23.44 ¥159
120.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.13 CVE 784
$4.84 ¥32.75
67.98%
Cappuccino
$1.96 CVE 189
$3.11 ¥21.06
-36.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 CVE 189
$0.44 ¥3.00
345.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 CVE 113
$0.29 ¥1.99
303.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.36 CVE 324
$0.98 ¥6.64
242.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CVE 207
$2.05 ¥13.88
4.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 CVE 132
$1.84 ¥12.47
-25.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 CVE 177
$1.62 ¥10.94
12.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 CVE 174
$0.93 ¥6.28
93.55%
Eggs
$2.31 CVE 222
$1.63 ¥11.03
41.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.10 CVE 1,263
$13.15 ¥89.0
-0.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 CVE 785
$3.26 ¥22.09
149.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.28 CVE 1,956
$10.62 ¥71.9
90.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 CVE 258
$1.80 ¥12.19
48.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 CVE 225
$1.30 ¥8.77
79.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 CVE 272
$1.46 ¥9.90
93.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.49 CVE 337
$1.20 ¥8.15
190.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 CVE 143
$0.76 ¥5.14
96.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 CVE 164
$0.88 ¥5.93
93.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 CVE 136
$0.57 ¥3.86
147.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 CVE 102
$0.54 ¥3.63
96.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 CVE 481
$3.42 ¥23.17
45.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.42 CVE 812
$11.75 ¥79.5
-28.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 CVE 195
$0.80 ¥5.40
152.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CVE 179
$1.62 ¥10.95
14.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Verde
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 CVE 87.1
$0.43 ¥2.94
109.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.47 CVE 2,939
$20.47 ¥139
48.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 CVE 175
$1.36 ¥9.24
33.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 CVE 205
$0.35 ¥2.39
505.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 CVE 1,026
$6.50 ¥43.97
63.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 CVE 147
$1.12 ¥7.59
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K CVE 2.8M
$19.5K ¥131.8K
50.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K CVE 3.8M
$16.9K ¥114.1K
132.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 CVE 13.1K
$51.7 ¥350
162.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.27 CVE 2,727
$10.17 ¥68.8
177.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 CVE 5,151
$11.16 ¥75.5
378.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.59 CVE 3,336
$39.62 ¥268
-12.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.68 CVE 837
$14.53 ¥98.3
-40.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 CVE 565
$6.38 ¥43.19
-8.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 CVE 15.6K
$407 ¥2,756
-60.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,997 CVE 289.0K
$17.8K ¥120.7K
-83.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 CVE 5,750
$45.53 ¥308
30.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79 CVE 2,969
$32.31 ¥219
-4.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 CVE 8,010
$72.6 ¥491
14.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 CVE 13.5K
$74.4 ¥504
88.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Verde
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 CVE 43.9K
$443 ¥2,996
2.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$250 CVE 24.1K
$258 ¥1,747
-3.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$567 CVE 54.7K
$910 ¥6,162
-37.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 CVE 46.5K
$543 ¥3,677
-11.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,134 CVE 109.4K
$4,934 ¥33.4K
-77.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$798 CVE 77.0K
$2,398 ¥16.2K
-66.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Verde
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$330 CVE 31.8K
$1,065 ¥7,205
-69.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.67
4.06
88.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cape Verde: July 12, 2026

Last update for China: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $161 in Cape Verde vs $287 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $474 in Praia and $894 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $286 in Cape Verde vs $855 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 78% higher in China.

Dining out costs 33% more in Cape Verde.

Public transport is 50% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 199% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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
Cape Verde vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Cape Verde or China?
Cape Verde is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 42% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Cape Verde or in China?
Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Cape Verde vs China?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Cape Verde, contributing to the overall 42% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Cape Verde and China on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Cape Verde, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Cape Verde or China?
Cape Verde 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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