MigrantoCost of living in Sao Tome and Principe
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
STN 4,450
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
STN 1,630richest 20%
STN 13,800
Sao Tome and Principe is a tiny island country that imports almost everything beyond what it can grow, so prices carry the cost of reaching a small, far-flung market. The local economy is thin, leaning on cocoa and outside help more than on industry of its own. The distance between a comfortable life and a hand-to-mouth one is enormous — the same shops serve two completely different realities.
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What it costs to live in Sao Tome and Principe
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Cost of living in Sao Tome and Principe
STN 1,630/mo
vs STN 16,900 in your country
Take-home
STN 3,790
vs STN 25,400 in your country
Potential savings
STN 2,160
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Sao Tome and Principe compare
Sao Tome and Principe lands above the regional middle for cost yet stays around the world's midpoint, a strange result for so small and poor a place. The explanation is isolation: a remote micro-economy pays dearly to import the little it can't produce. For an outsider, the prices feel high for what the islands offer rather than for any real prosperity.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank, regional estimate), price levels (income-anchored estimate), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Sao Tome and Principe?
A typical person in Sao Tome and Principe spends about STN 4,450 a month — around STN 53,400 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 Sao Tome and Principe in US dollars?
The cost of living in Sao Tome and Principe is about $210 a month, or roughly $2,520 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Sao Tome and Principe?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about STN 1,630 a month per person, a typical one around STN 4,450, and a comfortable life around STN 6,670. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is Sao Tome and Principe an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. Sao Tome and Principe is more expensive than 35% of countries worldwide and ranks 8th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Sao Tome and Principe
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