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: $1,237 in Sao Tome versus $210 in Porto Alegre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,954 in Sao Tome versus $432 in Porto Alegre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,672 in Sao Tome versus $655 in Porto Alegre.

Living in Sao Tome is roughly 490% more expensive than in Porto Alegre, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sao Tome 10% lower, Porto Alegre 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.37 STN 198

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.23 STN 975

$38.78 STN 818

19.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 STN 171

$5.82 STN 123

39.69%

Cappuccino

$2.37 STN 50.1

$2.67 STN 56.4

-11.24%

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

$1.86 STN 39.18

$1.12 STN 23.69

66.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 STN 26.83

$0.84 STN 17.79

51.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 STN 36.24

$2.29 STN 48.25

-24.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 STN 40.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 STN 34.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 STN 21.24

$2.15 STN 45.30

-53.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 STN 45.56

$1.07 STN 22.58

101.87%

Eggs

$5.07 STN 107

$2.38 STN 50.3

113.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.55 STN 434

$19.40 STN 409

5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.10 STN 424

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.81 STN 524

$12.71 STN 268

95.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 STN 81.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 STN 38.59

Oranges (1kg)

$3.81 STN 80.4

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 STN 77.5

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 STN 62.8

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 STN 52.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 STN 11.11

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 STN 44.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 STN 48.69

$2.31 STN 48.84

Wine (Bottle)

$8.37 STN 177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 STN 33.23

$1.14 STN 24.02

38.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 STN 36.74

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 STN 30.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 STN 35.68

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 STN 55.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.38 STN 303

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 STN 38.33

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

$26.0K STN 548.7K

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

$32.6K STN 687.0K

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

$238 STN 5,014

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

$32.55 STN 687

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 STN 1,472

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.06 STN 740

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.12 STN 551

Cinema Ticket

$20.63 STN 435

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

$240 STN 5,055

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,261 STN 47.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.9 STN 1,623

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.38 STN 409

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 STN 6,196

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 STN 4,191

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 STN 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 STN 9,569

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 STN 39.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,166 STN 24.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 STN 5,772

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Porto Alegre: August 31, 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 $425 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 490% 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 $1,855 in Sao Tome and $315 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 $1,237 per month in Sao Tome versus $210 in Porto Alegre – a 490% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 210% higher in Sao Tome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $210 in Porto Alegre versus $1,237 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 490% less than in Sao Tome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.