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: $1,217 in Praia versus $997 in Sal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,921 in Praia versus $1,518 in Sal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,626 in Praia versus $2,038 in Sal.

Living in Praia is roughly 22% more expensive than in Sal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Praia 9% lower, Sal 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.11 CVE 493

$5.72 CVE 552

-10.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.36 CVE 3,507

$46.66 CVE 4,500

-22.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 CVE 671

$7.38 CVE 712

-5.69%

Cappuccino

$1.57 CVE 152

$2.37 CVE 229

-33.76%

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

$3.11 CVE 300

$2.43 CVE 234

27.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CVE 125

$1.17 CVE 113

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 CVE 253

$3.98 CVE 384

-34.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CVE 196

$3.22 CVE 311

-36.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 CVE 137

$1.47 CVE 142

-3.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 CVE 209

$2.18 CVE 210

-0.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CVE 326

$1.54 CVE 149

119.48%

Eggs

$2.28 CVE 220

$2.73 CVE 264

-16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.76 CVE 2,581

$11.08 CVE 1,068

141.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 CVE 385

$8.32 CVE 803

-52.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.51 CVE 1,689

$16.37 CVE 1,579

6.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 CVE 501

$2.82 CVE 272

84.04%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 CVE 299

$2.55 CVE 246

21.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CVE 362

$2.97 CVE 286

26.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 CVE 470

$4.05 CVE 390

20.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 CVE 139

$1.62 CVE 156

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 CVE 155

$1.99 CVE 192

-19.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 CVE 144

$1.86 CVE 180

-19.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CVE 150

$1.11 CVE 107

39.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 CVE 461

$4.74 CVE 457

0.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 CVE 792

$6.65 CVE 641

23.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CVE 172

$3.07 CVE 296

-41.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CVE 176

$1.96 CVE 189

-6.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 CVE 79.7

$1.04 CVE 100

-20.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.93 CVE 2,791

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 CVE 149

$2.12 CVE 205

-27.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CVE 127

$2.77 CVE 267

-52.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 CVE 989

$13.00 CVE 1,254

-21.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CVE 153

$1.48 CVE 143

7.43%

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

$29.7K CVE 2.9M

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)

$183 CVE 17.7K

$91.3 CVE 8,808

100.74%

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

$28.01 CVE 2,701

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 CVE 5,049

$56.0 CVE 5,402

-6.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.64 CVE 3,052

$34.94 CVE 3,370

-9.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.61 CVE 830

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 CVE 565

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

$145 CVE 14.0K

$146 CVE 14.0K

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,209 CVE 309.5K

$2,548 CVE 245.8K

25.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 CVE 8,193

$31.14 CVE 3,003

172.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.09 CVE 2,998

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CVE 8,207

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CVE 12.2K

$145 CVE 14.0K

-12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CVE 45.7K

$333 CVE 32.2K

42.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 CVE 25.0K

$294 CVE 28.4K

-11.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 CVE 104.4K

$440 CVE 42.5K

145.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 CVE 53.9K

$388 CVE 37.4K

44.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,392 CVE 134.3K

$672 CVE 64.8K

107.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,036 CVE 100.0K

$343 CVE 33.1K

201.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 CVE 30.3K

$257 CVE 24.8K

22.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

45.87%

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

Last update for Praia: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Praia and $333 in Sal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Praia pays 22% 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 $356 vs $301, 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 22% 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 22% 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: $474 in Praia versus $333 in Sal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $145 in Praia versus $146 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 $997 in Sal versus $1,217 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 22% less than in Praia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.