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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Praia vs $395 in Mindelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,843 per month in Praia vs $913 in Mindelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,430 per month in Praia vs $1,431 in Mindelo, rent included.

Praia costs about 218% more than Mindelo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Praia and Mindelo are more affordable than the global median – Praia 8% lower, Mindelo 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.10 CVE 488

$9.01 CVE 861

-43.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.54 CVE 3,492

$57.5 CVE 5,493

-36.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 CVE 614

Cappuccino

$2.59 CVE 248

$1.18 CVE 112

119.49%

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

$1.59 CVE 152

$1.33 CVE 127

19.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CVE 111

$1.02 CVE 97.6

14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 CVE 251

$2.69 CVE 257

-2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CVE 193

$1.58 CVE 151

27.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 CVE 132

$1.55 CVE 148

-10.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 CVE 204

$1.12 CVE 107

91.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 CVE 351

$0.88 CVE 84.1

317.05%

Eggs

$2.43 CVE 232

$2.70 CVE 258

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.42 CVE 2,524

$16.43 CVE 1,570

60.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 CVE 460

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.06 CVE 1,630

$17.49 CVE 1,671

-2.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 CVE 506

$2.23 CVE 213

137.22%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 CVE 295

$1.97 CVE 189

56.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 CVE 395

$2.87 CVE 274

44.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CVE 414

$3.23 CVE 308

34.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 CVE 146

$0.88 CVE 84.2

73.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 CVE 137

$1.77 CVE 169

-18.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 CVE 98.9

$1.07 CVE 103

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CVE 152

$0.77 CVE 73.9

106.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 CVE 507

$5.13 CVE 490

3.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.58 CVE 820

$8.52 CVE 814

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 CVE 173

$2.00 CVE 191

-9.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CVE 167

$2.14 CVE 204

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 CVE 62.9

$0.45 CVE 43.04

46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.64 CVE 2,832

$31.64 CVE 3,023

-6.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 CVE 198

$1.61 CVE 154

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CVE 125

$1.53 CVE 146

-15.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.42 CVE 996

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 CVE 153

$1.71 CVE 164

-6.43%

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

$29.5K CVE 2.8M

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

$38.9K CVE 3.7M

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

$186 CVE 17.8K

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

$18.55 CVE 1,772

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 CVE 4,965

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.22 CVE 3,174

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.34 CVE 988

$3.22 CVE 308

221.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.91 CVE 565

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

$131 CVE 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,181 CVE 303.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 CVE 6,036

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.26 CVE 2,509

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.3 CVE 6,428

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.6 CVE 9,037

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 CVE 56.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 CVE 28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 CVE 89.8K

$363 CVE 34.6K

159.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 CVE 45.9K

$261 CVE 25.0K

83.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 CVE 134.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,046 CVE 100.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 CVE 29.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Praia: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mindelo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Praia versus $57.0 in Mindelo. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Praia vs $244 in Mindelo – 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

Praia vs Mindelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Praia is pricier by about 218%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,885 per month in Praia and $593 in Mindelo. 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 46% 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 $395, than in Praia at $1,256. 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.