Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Mindelo Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Mindelo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Sal vs $423 in Mindelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Sal vs $954 in Mindelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,038 per month in Sal vs $1,486 in Mindelo, rent included.

Sal costs about 136% more than Mindelo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sal and Mindelo are more affordable than the global median – Sal 25% lower, Mindelo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 CVE 552

$11.32 CVE 1,091

-49.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 CVE 4,500

$57.3 CVE 5,529

-18.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CVE 712

Cappuccino

$2.37 CVE 229

$1.13 CVE 109

109.73%

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

$2.43 CVE 234

$1.02 CVE 98.8

138.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CVE 113

$1.03 CVE 99.4

13.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 CVE 384

$3.36 CVE 324

18.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CVE 311

$1.81 CVE 175

77.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 CVE 142

$1.55 CVE 149

-5.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 CVE 210

$1.16 CVE 112

87.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CVE 149

$0.81 CVE 77.7

90.12%

Eggs

$2.73 CVE 264

$2.72 CVE 262

0.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 CVE 1,068

$15.92 CVE 1,535

-30.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CVE 803

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 CVE 1,579

$18.09 CVE 1,744

-9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 CVE 272

$2.19 CVE 211

28.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CVE 246

$1.94 CVE 187

31.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CVE 286

$3.00 CVE 289

-1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CVE 390

$3.17 CVE 306

27.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 CVE 156

$0.85 CVE 82.4

90.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CVE 192

$1.68 CVE 162

18.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 CVE 180

$1.08 CVE 104

72.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CVE 107

$0.74 CVE 71.5

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 CVE 457

$5.32 CVE 513

-10.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 CVE 641

$8.33 CVE 803

-20.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CVE 296

$1.93 CVE 186

59.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 189

$2.03 CVE 196

-3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 CVE 100

$0.46 CVE 44.48

126.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.02 CVE 2,992

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 CVE 205

$1.55 CVE 150

36.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 CVE 267

$1.46 CVE 140

89.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 CVE 1,254

$10.52 CVE 1,015

23.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 CVE 143

$1.78 CVE 172

-16.85%

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

$91.3 CVE 8,808

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CVE 5,402

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.94 CVE 3,370

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.15 CVE 304

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

$146 CVE 14.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,548 CVE 245.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.14 CVE 3,003

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 CVE 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 CVE 28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 CVE 42.5K

$365 CVE 35.2K

20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 CVE 37.4K

$259 CVE 25.0K

49.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$672 CVE 64.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$343 CVE 33.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 CVE 24.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

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

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mindelo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal versus $57.0 in Mindelo. Groceries tell a different story – $301 in Sal 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

Sal vs Mindelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sal is pricier by about 136%, 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 $1,495 per month in Sal and $634 in Mindelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Sal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal and $57.0 in Mindelo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $997 in Sal and $423 in Mindelo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Sal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.