😐A single person spends $1,646 per month in Spain vs $648 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,401 per month in Spain vs $1,129 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,155 per month in Spain vs $1,609 in Sao Tome And Principe, rent included.
😐Spain costs about 154% more than Sao Tome And Principe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Spain sits 23% above the global median, while Sao Tome And Principe is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Spain has a wider regional cost range ($1,133–$3,262) than Sao Tome And Principe ($209–$1,087), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.91
$20.34STN 427
-20.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3€49.27
$42.40STN 890
35.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.14
$9.95STN 209
6.73%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.05
$1.98STN 41.55
20.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$1.93STN 40.45
34.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$1.04STN 21.79
83.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.62STN 34.00
115.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.46
$1.84STN 38.62
119.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.38STN 29.07
-10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59€1.37
$1.54STN 32.38
3.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59€1.37
$1.85STN 38.82
-14.05%
Eggs
$3.05€2.62
$4.37STN 91.9
-30.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.55€12.52
$19.68STN 413
-26.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.24
$20.28STN 426
-58.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.35
$25.30STN 531
-38.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.52STN 94.9
-43.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.14STN 23.96
76.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$3.95STN 83.0
-47.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$3.52STN 74.0
-28.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.53STN 53.2
-26.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$1.99STN 41.76
-5.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.16
$0.72STN 15.17
87.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$1.91STN 40.15
-61.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.47
$2.35STN 49.26
170.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.87
$8.19STN 172
-30.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.28STN 26.84
-2.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.77
$1.33STN 27.86
54.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.46
$1.26STN 26.43
34.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.10€30.20
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42€3.80
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.32€22.64
$14.25STN 299
84.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.63STN 34.15
12.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.2K
$23.1KSTN 484.8K
37.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€129
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56€17.69
$28.67STN 602
-28.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.49€29.67
$72.6STN 1,524
-52.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.96€41.25
$37.58STN 789
27.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05€13.80
$28.44STN 597
-43.57%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.73
$20.62STN 433
-56.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509€438
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,884€8,502
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5€74.4
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14€31.95
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.1
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109€93.6
$19.10STN 401
469.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045€899
$266STN 5,579
293.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$834€717
$192STN 4,025
335.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,453
$671STN 14.1K
151.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,065
$512STN 10.7K
141.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,378€3,766
$1,937STN 40.7K
125.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,747€2,363
$1,177STN 24.7K
133.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Sao Tome And Principe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,073€1,783
$457STN 9,595
353.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
7.38
-52.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026
Last update for Sao Tome And Principe: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $898 in Spain vs $171 in Sao Tome And Principe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,566 in Madrid and $342 in Sao Tome.
💰Average salary: $2,030 in Spain vs $272 in Sao Tome And Principe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 425% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 23% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 646% higher in Spain, giving Spain stronger purchasing power.
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
Spain vs Sao Tome And Principe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Tome And Principe more expensive than Spain?
Sao Tome And Principe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 239% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Spain, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Spain consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sao Tome And Principe, contributing to the overall 239% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Sao Tome And Principe or Spain?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sao Tome And Principe, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Sao Tome And Principe or Spain?
Sao Tome And Principe is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.