Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Praia Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Praia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Mindelo vs $1,217 in Praia, rent included.

A couple spends around $954 per month in Mindelo vs $1,921 in Praia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,486 per month in Mindelo vs $2,626 in Praia, rent included.

Mindelo is about 65% cheaper than Praia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mindelo and Praia are more affordable than the global median – Mindelo 68% lower, Praia 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.32 CVE 1,093

$5.11 CVE 493

121.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 CVE 5,534

$36.36 CVE 3,510

57.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 CVE 672

Cappuccino

$1.13 CVE 109

$1.57 CVE 152

-28.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CVE 98.9

$3.11 CVE 300

-67.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CVE 99.5

$1.29 CVE 125

-20.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 CVE 324

$2.62 CVE 253

28.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CVE 175

$2.03 CVE 196

-10.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 CVE 150

$1.42 CVE 137

9.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 CVE 112

$2.17 CVE 209

-46.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 CVE 77.8

$3.38 CVE 327

-76.04%

Eggs

$2.72 CVE 263

$2.28 CVE 221

19.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 CVE 1,537

$26.76 CVE 2,584

-40.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 CVE 385

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.09 CVE 1,746

$17.51 CVE 1,690

3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 CVE 211

$5.19 CVE 502

-57.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 CVE 188

$3.10 CVE 300

-37.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CVE 290

$3.76 CVE 363

-20.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 CVE 306

$4.87 CVE 470

-34.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 CVE 82.5

$1.44 CVE 139

-40.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 CVE 162

$1.61 CVE 156

4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CVE 104

$1.49 CVE 144

-27.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 CVE 71.5

$1.55 CVE 150

-52.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.32 CVE 513

$4.78 CVE 461

11.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 CVE 804

$8.22 CVE 793

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CVE 186

$1.79 CVE 173

7.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CVE 196

$1.83 CVE 176

10.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 CVE 44.53

$0.83 CVE 79.8

-44.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.02 CVE 2,995

$28.93 CVE 2,793

7.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 CVE 150

$1.54 CVE 149

0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CVE 141

$1.31 CVE 127

11.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 CVE 1,016

$10.25 CVE 990

2.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 CVE 172

$1.59 CVE 153

11.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K CVE 2.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.8K CVE 3.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 CVE 17.7K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.01 CVE 2,704

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 CVE 5,054

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.64 CVE 3,055

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.15 CVE 305

$8.61 CVE 831

-63.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 CVE 565

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$145 CVE 14.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,209 CVE 309.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 CVE 8,202

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.09 CVE 3,001

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CVE 8,215

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CVE 12.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CVE 45.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 CVE 25.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 CVE 35.2K

$1,083 CVE 104.6K

-66.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 CVE 25.0K

$559 CVE 54.0K

-53.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,392 CVE 134.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,036 CVE 100.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 CVE 30.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mindelo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Praia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Mindelo versus $36.00 in Praia. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Mindelo vs $356 in Praia – so Mindelo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mindelo vs Praia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Praia is pricier by about 188%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $634 per month in Mindelo and $1,825 in Praia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Mindelo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Praia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mindelo, where all-in costs run around $423, than in Praia at $1,217. In Mindelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Praia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mindelo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mindelo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Praia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.