Cost of Living Comparison Between Praia and Sal Cost of Living Comparison Between Praia and Sal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,255 in Praia versus $888 in Sal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,886 in Praia versus $1,374 in Sal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,517 in Praia versus $1,860 in Sal.

Living in Praia is roughly 41% more expensive than in Sal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Praia 9% lower, Sal 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 CVE 500

$5.95 CVE 564

-11.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.40 CVE 3,454

$46.67 CVE 4,428

-22.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 CVE 602

$11.41 CVE 1,083

-44.35%

Cappuccino

$2.62 CVE 249

$2.43 CVE 231

7.82%

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

$1.66 CVE 157

$2.72 CVE 258

-38.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 CVE 113

$1.18 CVE 112

0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 CVE 246

$4.79 CVE 454

-45.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 CVE 196

$3.08 CVE 293

-33.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 CVE 130

$1.58 CVE 150

-13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 CVE 201

$2.33 CVE 221

-9.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CVE 338

$1.23 CVE 117

189.43%

Eggs

$2.35 CVE 223

$2.91 CVE 276

-19.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.74 CVE 2,537

$9.60 CVE 911

178.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 CVE 447

$7.82 CVE 742

-39.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.25 CVE 1,637

$16.71 CVE 1,586

3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 CVE 495

$3.34 CVE 317

56.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.19 CVE 303

$2.48 CVE 235

28.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 CVE 398

$3.45 CVE 327

21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CVE 413

$4.03 CVE 383

7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 CVE 146

$1.72 CVE 163

-10.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 CVE 136

$1.92 CVE 182

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 CVE 93.7

$1.62 CVE 153

-38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CVE 148

$1.13 CVE 107

38.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 CVE 507

$4.78 CVE 453

11.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.65 CVE 821

$6.87 CVE 652

25.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 CVE 180

$4.14 CVE 393

-54.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 CVE 168

$1.96 CVE 186

-9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 CVE 65.3

$1.03 CVE 98.1

-33.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 CVE 2,818

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 CVE 205

$2.08 CVE 198

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 CVE 120

$3.19 CVE 303

-60.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 CVE 1,254

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CVE 149

$1.37 CVE 130

15.33%

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

$29.7K CVE 2.8M

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

$38.8K CVE 3.7M

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

$187 CVE 17.8K

$63.5 CVE 6,024

195.01%

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

$18.87 CVE 1,790

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 CVE 5,017

$50.6 CVE 4,804

4.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.30 CVE 3,159

$29.27 CVE 2,777

13.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 CVE 1,016

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 CVE 547

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

$130 CVE 12.3K

$120 CVE 11.4K

7.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,183 CVE 302.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 CVE 6,195

$30.98 CVE 2,939

110.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.91 CVE 2,458

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 CVE 6,575

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 CVE 9,102

$145 CVE 13.8K

-34.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 CVE 55.6K

$267 CVE 25.4K

119.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 CVE 28.7K

$172 CVE 16.4K

75.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$925 CVE 87.7K

$317 CVE 30.1K

191.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 CVE 47.4K

$207 CVE 19.6K

141.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,413 CVE 134.0K

$682 CVE 64.7K

107.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,018 CVE 96.6K

$349 CVE 33.1K

191.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 CVE 30.1K

$267 CVE 25.3K

18.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

52.38%

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

Last update for Praia: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $586 in Praia and $267 in Sal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Praia pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Praia vs $47.00 in Sal. Groceries flip the comparison at $358 vs $307, with Sal cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sal wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Praia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Praia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $586 in Praia versus $267 in Sal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $130 in Praia versus $120 in Sal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sal – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $36.00 in Praia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $888 in Sal versus $1,255 in Praia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sal but tight or insufficient in Praia. The gap between the two cities makes Sal 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, Praia and Sal 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 Sal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Praia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.