🙂A single person spends $501 per month in Cape Verde vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $824 per month in Cape Verde vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,147 per month in Cape Verde vs $5,033 in United States, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Cape Verde is roughly 81% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Cape Verde sits 64% below the global median, while United States is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91CVE 561
$19.83$19.83
-70.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.0CVE 5,222
$78.8$78.8
-30.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29CVE 788
$12.19$12.19
-31.99%
Cappuccino
$2.52CVE 239
$5.59$5.59
-54.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17CVE 206
$2.78$2.78
-21.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23CVE 117
$2.18$2.18
-43.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18CVE 302
$5.86$5.86
-45.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09CVE 198
$8.02$8.02
-73.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53CVE 145
$1.07$1.07
42.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77CVE 168
$3.68$3.68
-51.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00CVE 190
$4.66$4.66
-57.08%
Eggs
$2.43CVE 230
$4.20$4.20
-42.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87CVE 1,317
$12.78$12.78
8.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53CVE 810
$12.40$12.40
-31.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.39CVE 1,841
$16.90$16.90
14.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21CVE 304
$5.23$5.23
-38.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64CVE 251
$1.66$1.66
59.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10CVE 294
$4.33$4.33
-28.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06CVE 385
$4.96$4.96
-18.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54CVE 146
$2.82$2.82
-45.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79CVE 170
$3.11$3.11
-42.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34CVE 127
$2.19$2.19
-38.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CVE 118
$2.26$2.26
-45.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31CVE 505
$10.35$10.35
-48.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30CVE 789
$14.81$14.81
-43.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04CVE 194
$2.09$2.09
-2.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CVE 187
$3.65$3.65
-46.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69CVE 65.8
$2.38$2.38
-71.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.27CVE 3,065
$64.5$64.5
-49.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.17CVE 206
$3.54$3.54
-38.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67CVE 254
$1.86$1.86
43.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.92CVE 1,512
$30.34$30.34
-47.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55CVE 147
$1.00$1.00
55.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KCVE 2.9M
$35.5K$35.5K
-15.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5KCVE 3.8M
$25.9K$25.9K
52.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CVE 14.4K
$222$222
-31.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.24CVE 1,637
$61.1$61.1
-71.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0CVE 5,315
$74.7$74.7
-25.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.67CVE 2,912
$44.49$44.49
-31.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.10CVE 770
$22.35$22.35
-63.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90CVE 560
$15.03$15.03
-60.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148CVE 14.0K
$1,431$1,431
-89.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,232CVE 306.9K
$25.9K$25.9K
-87.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0CVE 5,033
$53.6$53.6
-1.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.06CVE 2,475
$43.46$43.46
-40.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.9CVE 6,638
$91.5$91.5
-23.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141CVE 13.4K
$114$114
23.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444CVE 42.1K
$1,633$1,633
-72.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257CVE 24.4K
$1,328$1,328
-80.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607CVE 57.6K
$2,606$2,606
-76.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347CVE 33.0K
$2,206$2,206
-84.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,162CVE 110.3K
$3,323$3,323
-65.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$794CVE 75.4K
$2,653$2,653
-70.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Verde
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$343CVE 32.5K
$4,306$4,306
-92.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.33
6.21
18.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cape Verde: September 8, 2026
Last update for United States: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $171 in Cape Verde vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $595 in Praia and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.
💰Average salary: $289 in Cape Verde vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 838% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 168% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 125% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 1466% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.
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 United States?
Cape Verde is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 414% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Cape Verde or in United States?
Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Cape Verde vs United States?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Cape Verde, contributing to the overall 414% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Cape Verde and United States on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Cape Verde, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Cape Verde or United States?
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.
Cape Verde vs other spots: cost of living compared