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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $416 per month in Mindelo vs $1,014 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $958 per month in Mindelo vs $1,540 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Mindelo vs $2,066 in Sal, rent included.

Mindelo is about 59% cheaper than Sal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mindelo and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Mindelo 69% lower, Sal 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 CVE 1,110

$5.80 CVE 549

102.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.3 CVE 5,516

$46.87 CVE 4,437

24.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 CVE 690

Cappuccino

$1.13 CVE 107

$2.28 CVE 216

-50.44%

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

$1.07 CVE 102

$2.43 CVE 230

-55.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 CVE 98.4

$1.12 CVE 106

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 CVE 333

$3.85 CVE 364

-8.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CVE 173

$3.11 CVE 295

-41.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CVE 145

$1.50 CVE 142

2.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 CVE 107

$2.22 CVE 210

-49.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 CVE 75.6

$1.55 CVE 147

-48.39%

Eggs

$2.62 CVE 248

$2.87 CVE 272

-8.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CVE 1,539

$11.06 CVE 1,048

46.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 CVE 777

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.56 CVE 1,663

$16.60 CVE 1,572

5.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 CVE 208

$2.93 CVE 278

-25.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 CVE 187

$2.54 CVE 240

-22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 CVE 275

$2.94 CVE 279

-1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 CVE 305

$4.16 CVE 394

-22.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 CVE 82.7

$1.63 CVE 154

-46.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 CVE 167

$1.97 CVE 186

-10.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CVE 100

$1.84 CVE 174

-42.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 CVE 73.5

$1.14 CVE 108

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 CVE 490

$4.84 CVE 459

7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.40 CVE 796

$6.99 CVE 662

20.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CVE 191

$2.98 CVE 283

-32.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CVE 199

$1.97 CVE 187

6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 CVE 43.09

$1.03 CVE 97.7

-55.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.03 CVE 2,938

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 CVE 150

$2.13 CVE 201

-25.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CVE 132

$2.83 CVE 268

-50.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 CVE 997

$12.83 CVE 1,214

-17.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 CVE 161

$1.43 CVE 135

18.88%

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

$89.8 CVE 8,500

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 CVE 5,225

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.47 CVE 3,358

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.18 CVE 301

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

$150 CVE 14.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,546 CVE 241.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 CVE 3,006

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 CVE 13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 CVE 31.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 CVE 27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 CVE 34.9K

$446 CVE 42.2K

-17.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 CVE 25.2K

$400 CVE 37.9K

-33.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$674 CVE 63.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$348 CVE 33.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 CVE 24.9K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Mindelo versus $47.00 in Sal. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Mindelo vs $304 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 144%, 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 $624 per month in Mindelo and $1,521 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $58.0 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 $416 in Mindelo and $1,014 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.