Map of countries with Cape Verdean embassies   Cape Verde
  Emb…
An anachronous map of the Portuguese Empire (1415-1999).
Red - …
Cape Verde Population pyramid, 2005
The kindergarten graduation in Santiago island, Cape Verde -- 5…
São Vicente Island, Cape Verde. The beach of Praia Grande and M…
Land Rover Defender on the island São Nicolau (Kap Verde)

Cape Verde

Atlantic Ocean
Climate
CVE
Currency
Caution
Safety
Moderate
Cost of Living
Portuguese
Language
Country Information Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an archipelago of ten volcanic islands located off the west coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Situated approximately 570 kilometers west of Senegal, the nation is known for its strategic maritime position and unique geographical ch...

Cost of Living
vs EU AverageSimilar cost of living
Rent
CVE45,000Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
CVE750Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
CVE138Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
CVE71.50One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Cape Verde Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
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With a safety index of 50/100, Cape Verde offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Cape Verde offers visa-free entry for citizens of numerous countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most EU member states, allowing stays of up to 30 days for tourism purposes. All visitors must complete mandatory EASE pre-registration online up to 5 days before arrival via www.ease.gov.cv, providing passport details, travel dates, flight information, and first accommodation, along with payment of the TSA (Airport Security Fee) of 3,400 CVE (approximately €31) per person over age 2. Failure to...

Visa-free entry: 30 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Work permits available
Retirement visa options
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Cape Verde

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Location Intelligence for Cape Verde
Cost of Living46.2

Near EU average

Safety49.7

24% below EU avg

Quality of Life108.3

30% below EU avg

Purchasing Power19.6

72% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Praia

Timezone

UTC-01:00

Area

4,033 km²

Population

555,988

Cape Verde shows a purchasing power index of 20/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Cape Verde

GDP

$2.31B

HDI

0.7

Quality of Life

47/100

+4 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

8/100

-34 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Cape Verde. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Cape Verde
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

High

Very affordable with CPI of 46.1. Groceries index at 57.0 and restaurant prices at 35.3 are significantly lower than major developed nations, making daily expenses manageable.

Housing Market

Poor

Property prices average 13.8 years of household income, indicating expensive housing relative to local earnings. Rent index of 8.6 is affordable, but property ownership remains challenging for most residents.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Purchasing power index of 21.7 is very low, reflecting limited local earning capacity. GDP per capita of approximately $4,850-$5,329 indicates below-average income levels compared to global standards.

Tax System

Moderate

Progressive income tax system with rates up to 47%. VAT applied on goods and services. Tax base broadening efforts underway including increased tourism taxes and reduced exemptions to improve fiscal consolidation.

Business Environment

Moderate

Growing economy with 7.3% GDP growth in 2024 and projected 5.2% growth in 2026. Tourism-driven investment and improving infrastructure support business development, though structural vulnerabilities and SOE reform challenges persist.

Social Security

Moderate

Social safety net includes redistributive policies targeting poverty reduction and diaspora remittance support. Healthcare and pension systems exist but face resource constraints typical of lower-income island nations with limited fiscal capacity.

Work & Business in Cape Verde
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Cape Verde, a small volcanic archipelago off West Africa, features a predominantly arid tropical climate ideal for sun-seekers and expats preferring mild, stable weather. Dominated by hot desert (BWh) and hot semi-arid (BSh) Köppen classifications, it offers year-round warmth with average temperatures around 23-24°C.

Climate
Hot desert, Hot semi-arid
Summer
24–30°C
Winter
20–26°C
Sunshine
3500+ hrs/yr

3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Cape Verde

Life Expectancy

72.8

Population

555,988

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)
72.5%
Non-religious
15.6%
Christianity (Protestant)
4%
Christianity
1.7%
Islam
1.3%

Ethnic Composition

Currently under research

What Expats Say About Cape VerdeBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Cape Verde. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Cape Verde
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Cape Verde
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Cape Verde
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Cape Verde maintains a stable semi-presidential democracy with competitive elections and power alternation between the center-right MpD and center-left PAICV. The MpD holds a parliamentary majority under Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva since 2016, while President José Maria Neves of PAICV was elected in 2021. Recent reforms emphasize judicial improvements, open government, and administrative transparency.

System
Semi-presidential representative democratic republic
Stability
Stable
Democracy
Full Democracy
Legal System
Civil law system
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Cape Verde
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Cape Verde flag
Cape Verde at a Glance

Capital

Praia

Languages

Portuguese

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Cape Verde

Population

555,988

Currency

CVE

Timezone

UTC-01:00

Calling Code

+238

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

42.4 (2015)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.