Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Verde and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Verde: $1,123 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cape Verde
United States
🇨🇻 Cape Verde
$1,123
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cape Verde and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cape Verde and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Cape Verde vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

  • Cape Verde $1,123
  • United States $2,734

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Cape Verde vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

  • Cape Verde $1,700
  • United States $3,985

A family of three spends $2,276 per month in Cape Verde vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

  • Cape Verde $2,276
  • United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Cape Verde ($387–$1,195), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Cape Verde is roughly 59% lower than in the United States on average.

Cape Verde sits 18% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.46 CVE 540
$20.03 $20.03
-72.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4 CVE 5,280
$80.0 $80.0
-33.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.67 CVE 956
$11.80 $11.80
-18.05%
Cappuccino
$2.42 CVE 239
$5.55 $5.55
-56.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CVE 209
$2.66 $2.66
-20.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 CVE 117
$2.17 $2.17
-45.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.00 CVE 297
$6.12 $6.12
-50.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CVE 195
$7.94 $7.94
-75.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 CVE 137
$1.04 $1.04
33.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 CVE 169
$3.59 $3.59
-52.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 CVE 183
$4.52 $4.52
-59.07%
Eggs
$2.45 CVE 242
$4.28 $4.28
-42.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.30 CVE 1,315
$13.22 $13.22
0.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.68 CVE 858
$12.60 $12.60
-31.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.49 CVE 1,828
$17.60 $17.60
5.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 CVE 310
$5.30 $5.30
-40.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 CVE 261
$1.69 $1.69
56.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 CVE 292
$4.44 $4.44
-33.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 CVE 380
$4.77 $4.77
-19.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 CVE 147
$2.97 $2.97
-49.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 CVE 172
$3.15 $3.15
-44.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 CVE 124
$2.20 $2.20
-43.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 CVE 121
$2.35 $2.35
-48.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.97 CVE 492
$10.98 $10.98
-54.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 CVE 791
$15.05 $15.05
-46.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 CVE 204
$2.06 $2.06
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 CVE 177
$3.79 $3.79
-52.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 CVE 87.7
$1.94 $1.94
-54.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.02 CVE 2,969
$59.4 $59.4
-49.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 CVE 196
$3.58 $3.58
-44.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.56 CVE 253
$1.88 $1.88
36.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.49 CVE 1,532
$29.84 $29.84
-48.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 CVE 149
$1.02 $1.02
48.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K CVE 2.9M
$28.8K $28.8K
2.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K CVE 3.8M
$26.2K $26.2K
47.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 CVE 14.6K
$218 $218
-32.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86 CVE 1,667
$62.5 $62.5
-73.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8 CVE 5,222
$74.5 $74.5
-29.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.34 CVE 2,901
$41.86 $41.86
-29.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86 CVE 778
$22.81 $22.81
-65.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 CVE 550
$14.70 $14.70
-62.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$147 CVE 14.5K
$1,489 $1,489
-90.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,055 CVE 302.1K
$25.3K $25.3K
-87.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 CVE 5,045
$54.3 $54.3
-6.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45 CVE 2,517
$42.71 $42.71
-40.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.7 CVE 6,399
$94.1 $94.1
-31.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 CVE 13.5K
$114 $114
20.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$419 CVE 41.4K
$1,659 $1,659
-74.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 CVE 24.8K
$1,348 $1,348
-81.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 CVE 57.1K
$2,682 $2,682
-78.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 CVE 33.0K
$2,169 $2,169
-84.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,099 CVE 108.6K
$3,283 $3,283
-66.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$777 CVE 76.9K
$2,482 $2,482
-68.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$325 CVE 32.1K
$4,296 $4,296
-92.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.33
6.55
11.91%

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

Last update for Cape Verde: October 25, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cape Verde
$307
United States
$415 35.3% $108
Accommodation & Living
Cape Verde
$251
United States
$1.3K 437% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Verde
$217
United States
$355 63.3% $138
Eating Out
Cape Verde
$134
United States
$328 145% $194
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Verde
$125
United States
$137 9.7% $12
Getting Around
Cape Verde
$48
United States
$80 65.7% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Verde
$40
United States
$71 76.1% $31

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $412 in Cape Verde vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $570 in Praia and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $275 in Cape Verde vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 293% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 63% more in the United States.

Public transport is 110% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 17 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
12:21 12:21 PM
09:21 9:21 AM
3 h behind Cape Verde
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
555,988
340,110,988
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CVE – Cabo Verdean Escudo Converter

Cabo Verdean Escudo exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 98.88 CVE (100 CVE = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 110 CVE (1,000 CVE = 9.09 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cape Verde United States 6,670 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Verde
  • United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Cape Verde or the United States?
Cape Verde is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 59% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Cape Verde or in the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $412 in Cape Verde.
How do daily expenses compare in Cape Verde vs the United States?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Cape Verde, adding to the overall 144% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Cape Verde or the United States?
Cape Verde is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Cape Verde vs other spots: cost of living compared

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