MigrantoCost of living in Cape Verde
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
CVE 27,500
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
CVE 10,800richest 20%
CVE 91,800
Cape Verde is a scatter of dry islands that grow little of their own food, so most of what you eat and use arrives by ship and carries that freight in the price. The economy leans on tourism and money sent home from abroad more than on anything made locally. The split between how the well-off and the struggling live is stark — two very different countries share the same islands.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Cape Verde
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Cape Verde and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Cape Verde
CVE 10,800/mo
vs CVE 76,300 in your country
Take-home
CVE 17,300
vs CVE 114,000 in your country
Potential savings
CVE 6,580
more than in your country
Standard of living
Under a minute, no sign-up
How living costs in Cape Verde compare
Within Africa, Cape Verde counts among the dearer places to live, but step back to a global view and it lands somewhere in the middle. That makes sense for islands that import heavily yet still earn and charge in local terms well below wealthy nations. For an outside earner, it reads as steep for the region but fair against the world.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Cape Verde?
A typical person in Cape Verde spends about CVE 27,500 a month — around CVE 331,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Cape Verde in US dollars?
The cost of living in Cape Verde is about $289 a month, or roughly $3,468 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Cape Verde?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about CVE 10,800 a month per person, a typical one around CVE 27,500, and a comfortable life around CVE 40,700. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in Cape Verde enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about CVE 27,500 a month, while the average take-home pay in Cape Verde is about CVE 49,100. For more on incomes, see salaries in Cape Verde.
Is Cape Verde an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. Cape Verde is more expensive than 45% of countries worldwide and ranks 3rd of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Living in Cape Verde
See the full country overview