Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Sal Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Sal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Mindelo vs $997 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $954 per month in Mindelo vs $1,518 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,486 per month in Mindelo vs $2,038 in Sal, rent included.

Mindelo is about 58% cheaper than Sal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mindelo and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Mindelo 68% lower, Sal 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.32 CVE 1,093

$5.72 CVE 552

97.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 CVE 5,534

$46.66 CVE 4,505

22.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CVE 712

Cappuccino

$1.13 CVE 109

$2.37 CVE 229

-52.32%

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

$1.02 CVE 98.9

$2.43 CVE 234

-58.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CVE 99.5

$1.17 CVE 113

-11.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 CVE 324

$3.98 CVE 384

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CVE 175

$3.22 CVE 311

-43.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 CVE 150

$1.47 CVE 142

5.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 CVE 112

$2.18 CVE 210

-46.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 CVE 77.8

$1.54 CVE 149

-47.40%

Eggs

$2.72 CVE 263

$2.73 CVE 264

-0.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 CVE 1,537

$11.08 CVE 1,069

43.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CVE 804

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.09 CVE 1,746

$16.37 CVE 1,581

10.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 CVE 211

$2.82 CVE 272

-22.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 CVE 188

$2.55 CVE 246

-23.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CVE 290

$2.97 CVE 287

1.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 CVE 306

$4.05 CVE 391

-21.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 CVE 82.5

$1.62 CVE 156

-47.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 CVE 162

$1.99 CVE 192

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CVE 104

$1.86 CVE 180

-41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 CVE 71.5

$1.11 CVE 107

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.32 CVE 513

$4.74 CVE 457

12.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 CVE 804

$6.65 CVE 642

25.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CVE 186

$3.07 CVE 297

-37.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CVE 196

$1.96 CVE 189

3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 CVE 44.53

$1.04 CVE 100

-55.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.02 CVE 2,995

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 CVE 150

$2.12 CVE 205

-26.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CVE 141

$2.77 CVE 268

-47.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 CVE 1,016

$13.00 CVE 1,255

-19.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 CVE 172

$1.48 CVE 143

20.27%

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

$91.3 CVE 8,818

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CVE 5,408

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.94 CVE 3,374

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.15 CVE 305

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

$146 CVE 14.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,548 CVE 246.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.14 CVE 3,007

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 CVE 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 CVE 28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 CVE 35.2K

$440 CVE 42.5K

-17.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 CVE 25.0K

$388 CVE 37.5K

-33.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$672 CVE 64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$343 CVE 33.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 CVE 24.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

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

Last update for Mindelo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Mindelo versus $47.00 in Sal. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Mindelo vs $301 in Sal – 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 Sal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sal is pricier by about 136%, 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 $1,495 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Sal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Mindelo and $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $423 in Mindelo and $997 in Sal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Sal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.