Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Alegre and Sao Tome Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Alegre and Sao Tome

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $209 in Porto Alegre versus $1,087 in Sao Tome.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $427 in Porto Alegre versus $1,830 in Sao Tome.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $646 in Porto Alegre versus $2,573 in Sao Tome.

Living in Porto Alegre costs roughly 81% less than in Sao Tome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porto Alegre 84% lower, Sao Tome 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.64 STN 433

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.82 STN 815

$46.23 STN 971

-16.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 STN 121

$9.91 STN 208

-41.78%

Cappuccino

$2.63 STN 55.3

$1.73 STN 36.29

52.02%

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

$1.10 STN 23.09

$1.86 STN 39.04

-40.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 STN 17.40

$1.18 STN 24.73

-29.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 STN 49.29

$1.62 STN 33.98

45.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 STN 40.35

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 STN 28.98

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 STN 45.79

$1.00 STN 20.97

118.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 STN 22.34

$2.32 STN 48.76

-54.31%

Eggs

$2.38 STN 49.90

$4.96 STN 104

-52.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 STN 414

$20.53 STN 431

-3.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.97 STN 419

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.35 STN 259

$24.64 STN 517

-49.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 STN 99.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 STN 23.63

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 STN 83.9

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 STN 75.0

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 STN 55.5

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 STN 43.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 STN 14.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 STN 39.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.24 STN 47.14

$2.33 STN 48.83

-3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.09 STN 170

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 STN 23.84

$1.34 STN 28.04

-14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 STN 28.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 STN 25.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.88 STN 291

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 STN 34.32

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

$23.1K STN 484.8K

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

$34.07 STN 716

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 STN 1,501

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.22 STN 782

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.30 STN 615

Cinema Ticket

$20.93 STN 440

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.64 STN 392

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 STN 7,191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 STN 4,796

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 STN 14.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 STN 11.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,875 STN 39.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 STN 24.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$272 STN 5,709

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

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

Last update for Porto Alegre: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Porto Alegre vs $46.00 in Sao Tome for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $137 vs $415 per month, with Porto Alegre cheaper across the board.

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

Porto Alegre vs Sao Tome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Porto Alegre wins on cost – living expenses run 420% lower than in Sao Tome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Porto Alegre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $313 in Porto Alegre and $1,630 in Sao Tome to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $209 per month in Porto Alegre versus $1,087 in Sao Tome – a 420% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 202% higher in Sao Tome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $209 in Porto Alegre versus $1,087 in Sao Tome, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Alegre but tight or insufficient in Sao Tome. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Alegre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Porto Alegre and Sao Tome are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Porto Alegre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 420% less than in Sao Tome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.