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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Sal vs $405 in Mindelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,374 per month in Sal vs $935 in Mindelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,860 per month in Sal vs $1,466 in Mindelo, rent included.

Sal costs about 119% more than Mindelo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sal and Mindelo are more affordable than the global median – Sal 35% lower, Mindelo 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 CVE 564

$9.45 CVE 896

-37.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.67 CVE 4,428

$57.0 CVE 5,403

-18.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 CVE 1,083

Cappuccino

$2.43 CVE 231

$1.14 CVE 109

113.16%

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

$2.72 CVE 258

$1.30 CVE 123

109.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 CVE 112

$1.03 CVE 97.4

14.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.79 CVE 454

$2.82 CVE 268

69.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CVE 293

$1.63 CVE 154

88.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 CVE 150

$1.58 CVE 149

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 CVE 221

$1.19 CVE 113

95.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 CVE 117

$0.83 CVE 78.7

48.19%

Eggs

$2.91 CVE 276

$2.64 CVE 251

10.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 CVE 911

$16.15 CVE 1,532

-40.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 CVE 742

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 CVE 1,586

$18.19 CVE 1,726

-8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 CVE 317

$2.31 CVE 219

44.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 CVE 235

$2.04 CVE 193

21.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 CVE 327

$2.90 CVE 275

18.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CVE 383

$3.08 CVE 293

30.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 CVE 163

$0.81 CVE 76.7

112.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 CVE 182

$1.76 CVE 167

9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 CVE 153

$1.08 CVE 102

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CVE 107

$0.79 CVE 74.7

43.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 CVE 453

$5.13 CVE 487

-6.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.87 CVE 652

$8.26 CVE 784

-16.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.14 CVE 393

$1.96 CVE 186

111.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 186

$2.05 CVE 194

-4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CVE 98.1

$0.42 CVE 40.00

145.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.98 CVE 3,035

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 CVE 198

$1.55 CVE 147

34.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 CVE 303

$1.60 CVE 152

99.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 CVE 1,254

$10.69 CVE 1,014

23.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CVE 130

$1.72 CVE 163

-20.35%

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

$63.5 CVE 6,024

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 CVE 4,804

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.27 CVE 2,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.23 CVE 306

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

$120 CVE 11.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.98 CVE 2,939

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 CVE 25.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 CVE 16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 CVE 30.1K

$374 CVE 35.5K

-15.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 CVE 19.6K

$258 CVE 24.5K

-19.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$682 CVE 64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$349 CVE 33.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 CVE 25.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

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

Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mindelo: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal versus $57.0 in Mindelo. Groceries tell a different story – $307 in Sal vs $245 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 119%, 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 $1,331 per month in Sal and $607 in Mindelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $888 in Sal and $405 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.