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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Praia vs $416 in Mindelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,894 per month in Praia vs $958 in Mindelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,571 per month in Praia vs $1,501 in Mindelo, rent included.

Praia costs about 193% more than Mindelo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Praia and Mindelo are more affordable than the global median – Praia 9% lower, Mindelo 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 CVE 480

$11.72 CVE 1,110

-56.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 CVE 3,494

$58.3 CVE 5,516

-36.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 CVE 657

Cappuccino

$1.56 CVE 147

$1.13 CVE 107

38.05%

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

$3.18 CVE 301

$1.07 CVE 102

197.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 CVE 128

$1.04 CVE 98.4

29.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 CVE 246

$3.52 CVE 333

-26.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CVE 202

$1.83 CVE 173

16.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 CVE 135

$1.53 CVE 145

-6.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 CVE 201

$1.13 CVE 107

88.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 CVE 316

$0.80 CVE 75.6

317.50%

Eggs

$2.29 CVE 217

$2.62 CVE 248

-12.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.27 CVE 2,487

$16.25 CVE 1,539

61.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 CVE 392

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.16 CVE 1,625

$17.56 CVE 1,663

-2.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 CVE 491

$2.19 CVE 208

136.53%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 CVE 299

$1.97 CVE 187

60.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 CVE 362

$2.90 CVE 275

31.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 CVE 452

$3.22 CVE 305

48.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 CVE 140

$0.87 CVE 82.7

70.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CVE 150

$1.77 CVE 167

-10.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 CVE 141

$1.06 CVE 100

40.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CVE 147

$0.78 CVE 73.5

98.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.81 CVE 455

$5.18 CVE 490

-7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.83 CVE 836

$8.40 CVE 796

5.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 CVE 171

$2.02 CVE 191

-10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 CVE 183

$2.10 CVE 199

-7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 CVE 79.9

$0.46 CVE 43.09

82.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.37 CVE 2,686

$31.03 CVE 2,938

-8.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 CVE 153

$1.58 CVE 150

1.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 CVE 119

$1.39 CVE 132

-10.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 CVE 992

$10.53 CVE 997

-0.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 CVE 155

$1.70 CVE 161

-3.53%

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

$30.4K CVE 2.9M

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

$39.3K CVE 3.7M

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

$190 CVE 18.0K

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

$27.44 CVE 2,598

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 CVE 5,108

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.86 CVE 3,017

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.66 CVE 820

$3.18 CVE 301

172.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 CVE 547

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

$146 CVE 13.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,238 CVE 306.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 CVE 8,212

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.80 CVE 2,916

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 CVE 8,037

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CVE 12.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 CVE 44.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 CVE 24.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 CVE 102.3K

$368 CVE 34.9K

193.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$542 CVE 51.3K

$266 CVE 25.2K

103.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,345 CVE 127.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,017 CVE 96.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 CVE 20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Praia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mindelo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Praia versus $58.0 in Mindelo. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Praia vs $243 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 193%, 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 $1,827 per month in Praia and $624 in Mindelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 9% 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 $416, than in Praia at $1,218. 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.