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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $405 per month in Mindelo vs $888 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $935 per month in Mindelo vs $1,374 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,466 per month in Mindelo vs $1,860 in Sal, rent included.

Mindelo is about 54% cheaper than Sal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mindelo and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Mindelo 71% lower, Sal 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.45 CVE 896

$5.95 CVE 564

58.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.0 CVE 5,403

$46.67 CVE 4,428

22.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 CVE 1,083

Cappuccino

$1.14 CVE 109

$2.43 CVE 231

-53.09%

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

$1.30 CVE 123

$2.72 CVE 258

-52.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CVE 97.4

$1.18 CVE 112

-12.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 CVE 268

$4.79 CVE 454

-41.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CVE 154

$3.08 CVE 293

-47.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 CVE 149

$1.58 CVE 150

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 CVE 113

$2.33 CVE 221

-48.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 CVE 78.7

$1.23 CVE 117

-32.52%

Eggs

$2.64 CVE 251

$2.91 CVE 276

-9.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.15 CVE 1,532

$9.60 CVE 911

68.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 CVE 742

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.19 CVE 1,726

$16.71 CVE 1,586

8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 CVE 219

$3.34 CVE 317

-30.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 CVE 193

$2.48 CVE 235

-17.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 CVE 275

$3.45 CVE 327

-15.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.08 CVE 293

$4.03 CVE 383

-23.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 CVE 76.7

$1.72 CVE 163

-52.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 CVE 167

$1.92 CVE 182

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CVE 102

$1.62 CVE 153

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 CVE 74.7

$1.13 CVE 107

-30.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 CVE 487

$4.78 CVE 453

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.26 CVE 784

$6.87 CVE 652

20.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 186

$4.14 CVE 393

-52.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CVE 194

$1.96 CVE 186

4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 CVE 40.00

$1.03 CVE 98.1

-59.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.98 CVE 3,035

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 CVE 147

$2.08 CVE 198

-25.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 CVE 152

$3.19 CVE 303

-49.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.69 CVE 1,014

$13.22 CVE 1,254

-19.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 CVE 163

$1.37 CVE 130

25.55%

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

$63.5 CVE 6,024

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 CVE 4,804

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.27 CVE 2,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.23 CVE 306

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

$120 CVE 11.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.98 CVE 2,939

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 CVE 25.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 CVE 16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 CVE 35.5K

$317 CVE 30.1K

18.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 CVE 24.5K

$207 CVE 19.6K

24.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$682 CVE 64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$349 CVE 33.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 CVE 25.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

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

Last update for Mindelo: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Mindelo versus $47.00 in Sal. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Mindelo vs $307 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 119%, 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 $607 per month in Mindelo and $1,331 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 $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 $405 in Mindelo and $888 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.