Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Porto Alegre Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Porto Alegre

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Sao Tome versus $209 in Porto Alegre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,830 in Sao Tome versus $427 in Porto Alegre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,573 in Sao Tome versus $646 in Porto Alegre.

Living in Sao Tome is roughly 420% more expensive than Porto Alegre, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sao Tome 19% lower, Porto Alegre 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.64 STN 433

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.23 STN 971

$38.82 STN 815

19.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 STN 208

$5.77 STN 121

71.75%

Cappuccino

$1.73 STN 36.29

$2.63 STN 55.3

-34.22%

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

$1.86 STN 39.04

$1.10 STN 23.09

69.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 STN 24.73

$0.83 STN 17.40

42.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 STN 33.98

$2.35 STN 49.29

-31.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 STN 40.35

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 STN 28.98

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 STN 20.97

$2.18 STN 45.79

-54.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 STN 48.76

$1.06 STN 22.34

118.87%

Eggs

$4.96 STN 104

$2.38 STN 49.90

108.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.53 STN 431

$19.74 STN 414

4.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.97 STN 419

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.64 STN 517

$12.35 STN 259

99.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 STN 99.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 STN 23.63

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 STN 83.9

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 STN 75.0

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 STN 55.5

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 STN 43.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 STN 14.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 STN 39.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 STN 48.83

$2.24 STN 47.14

4.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.09 STN 170

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 STN 28.04

$1.14 STN 23.84

17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 STN 28.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 STN 25.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.88 STN 291

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 STN 34.32

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

$23.1K STN 484.8K

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

$34.07 STN 716

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 STN 1,501

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.22 STN 782

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.30 STN 615

Cinema Ticket

$20.93 STN 440

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.64 STN 392

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 STN 7,191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 STN 4,796

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 STN 14.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 STN 11.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,875 STN 39.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 STN 24.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$272 STN 5,709

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

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

Last update for Sao Tome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Porto Alegre: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Sao Tome vs $39.00 in Porto Alegre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $137 per month, with Porto Alegre cheaper across the board.

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

Sao Tome vs Porto Alegre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Porto Alegre wins on cost – living expenses run 420% lower than in Sao Tome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Porto Alegre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,630 in Sao Tome and $313 in Porto Alegre to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $1,087 per month in Sao Tome versus $209 in Porto Alegre – a 420% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 202% higher in Sao Tome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $209 in Porto Alegre versus $1,087 in Sao Tome, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Alegre but tight or insufficient in Sao Tome. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Alegre 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, Sao Tome and Porto Alegre 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 Porto Alegre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 420% less than in Sao Tome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.