Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
São Tomé and Príncipe is attracting more and more French people looking for tropical softness, safety, and a reasonable cost of living. But behind the postcard image, how much does one really need to budget to live there as a French expat, alone or with family, with a decent “European” level of comfort in 2026?
Recent data shows that the cost of living in São Tomé and Príncipe is significantly lower than in France, Portugal, or the United Kingdom. The monthly budget depends heavily on lifestyle, including often underestimated expenses like health insurance and electricity.
A generally low cost of living, but highly dependent on lifestyle
Most sources agree: the cost of living in São Tomé and Príncipe is “low”, especially if you stick to local products, standard rents, and basic services. International indices place the general price level at around 60% of that of the United States (base 100), or 42/100 compared to New York, which means life there is about 40 to 60% cheaper than in major Western metropolises.
For a French expatriate, the budget varies considerably depending on lifestyle. Adopting a local lifestyle (markets, motorcycle taxis, simple housing) allows you to greatly reduce expenses. On the other hand, seeking Western comfort (high-end housing, imported products, personal car, international health insurance, frequent travel) drives up costs and narrows the gap with Europe.
The orders of magnitude given by various studies provide a fairly clear framework:
| Profile and lifestyle | Indicative monthly budget (USD) | Indicative monthly budget (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, very local/frugal lifestyle | 700 – 900 | 600 – 760 |
| Single, moderate “expat” standard | 700 – 1,000 | 750 – 950 |
| Single, comfortable (private housing, leisure, etc.) | 840 – 1,680 | 750 – 950 (excl. major extras) |
| Single, very Western style with frequent travel | ≥ 2,688 | — |
| Family of 4, moderate expat standard | 2,500 – 3,500 | 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Family of 4, comfort with imports, car, private school | 4,500 – 6,000+ | 2,000 – 3,500 (base excl. major extras) |
In summary, a single French person can live decently for about 800 to 1,000 € per month if they adopt a simple, local lifestyle. With a more demanding expat lifestyle, the budget easily rises to around 1,200 to 1,600 € for a single person and 2,500 to 3,500 € for a family of four, or even more with a vehicle and international schooling.
Housing: the area where you save the most… or not
Housing is one of the few areas where São Tomé and Príncipe offers spectacular savings compared to Europe. Average rents are estimated to be 75 to 85% lower than in Portugal, the United Kingdom, or the United States. But here too, you have to distinguish the local market from the “high-end expat” market.
Average rent for an expatriate in a standard apartment
For a decent apartment, but not “luxury”, the figures in euros are fairly consistent across sources:
| Type of accommodation (long-term rental) | Average monthly rent (EUR) | Observed range (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom in city center | ~254 | 163 – 300 |
| 1 bedroom outside center | ~174 | 123 – 200 |
| 3 bedrooms in city center | ~506 | 368 – 750 |
| 3 bedrooms outside center | ~395 | 286 – 600 |
In dollars, the orders of magnitude are similar: a 1-bedroom in town around 200 to 300 USD, a 3-bedroom around 500 to 600 USD. One study even cites a national average of 340 USD for a 1-bedroom.
A single French person can rent a small one-bedroom apartment in the city center for about 250 € per month.
“Expat standard” and high-end housing
The real price jump occurs as soon as you move up to the standards sought by expatriate families: enhanced security, generator, water tank, good overall condition, sometimes a residence with a pool or near the sea.
The ranges change dramatically:
| Type of “expat” housing in São Tomé (main city) | Indicative monthly rent (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Decent standard local 3-bedroom | ~450 |
| “Premium expat” 2/3-bedroom (good standard) | 850 |
| High-end house/apartment | 1,000 – 3,000 |
| “Expat standard” family housing (family reference) | 1,500 – 3,000 |
Studies recommend that families budget between 1,500 and 3,000 € per month for quality housing in São Tomé. This huge delta compared to the local stock is due to several factors: scarcity of properties truly meeting international standards, the need for a generator and water reserve to cope with outages, and growing demand from international organizations and NGOs.
For a single French person, a 1-bedroom around 200 to 300 € is sufficient, with priority investment in health insurance, travel, and daily comfort.
Real estate purchase: still affordable, but a narrow market
For those considering buying rather than renting, prices per square meter remain very low compared to most European markets:
| Purchase price of an apartment | Average price (USD) | Average price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| City center (per m²) | ~1,910 | ~1,633 |
| Outside center (per m²) | ~1,194 | ~1,021 |
| National average (all sectors, order of magnitude) | ~1,200 | ~1,100+ |
Even if these figures look attractive, the market remains very informal and illiquid, and many of the most beautiful coastal plots have already been acquired by European investors. For a French expatriate, renting is generally more flexible, especially since a return or change of country is often possible after a few years.
Utilities and internet: an item not to be underestimated
The other reality of São Tomé and Príncipe, often overlooked by future expatriates, is the cost of energy and basic services when you want a Western level of comfort. Electricity is expensive, water is not always continuously available, and high-speed internet access is priced high for a sometimes unstable service.
Average estimates for an apartment of about 85 m² give:
| Monthly utility item (85 m², standard usage) | Average cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Electricity, water, heating/air conditioning, garbage | ~204 |
| Fixed high-speed internet (60 Mbps+, unlimited) | ~62 |
| Total housing utilities (excl. mobile phone) | ~266 |
Converted to dollars, several studies mention “basic” utilities around 200 to 240 USD per month for these same services.
For a 40 to 50 m² 1-bedroom with reasonable usage, expect 65 to 100 € for electricity and water; the bill increases with heavy use of air conditioning, electric water heater, freezer, and internet.
For internet, two approaches coexist:
– A fixed connection, more comfortable for remote work, billed around 60 to 70 € per month for a nominal speed of 50 to 60 Mbps, but with possible outages.
– A local SIM card with 10 GB or more data, around 24 to 30 € per month, often used as a backup or supplement.
Combining rent, utilities, and internet, a single French person in a 1-bedroom in the city center should therefore plan for a “housing + energy + connectivity package” of around 500 to 550 € for good comfort. This is both significantly less than in a large French city, but more than one might imagine thinking “cheap small African country”.
Food: very cheap locally, expensive as soon as you import
On food, São Tomé and Príncipe offers a stark contrast. Fresh local produce (fish, tropical fruits, tubers, basic rice) remains economical, while anything imported – processed products, dairy, meat, Western snacks – quickly becomes costly.
Expenditure analyses give for a single person:
Estimated monthly costs for food in São Tomé, depending on lifestyle and origin of products.
About 165 € per month (180 USD) for monthly groceries with local products and modest consumption.
Between 120 and 450 USD depending on the level of demand, including more or less reliance on imported products.
In Europe, a reasonable food budget ranges from 311 to 403 € per month. In São Tomé, cooking locally allows you to stay well below this range.
To get a concrete idea, unit prices in euros are telling:
| Common product (store or market) | Average price (EUR) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh white bread (500 g) | ~1.13 – 1.33 | Can go as low as 0.55 € |
| White rice (500 g) | ~0.75 | 1 kg around 1.70 € |
| Milk (1 L) | ~1.38 | Imported, fairly high price |
| Eggs (12) | ~3.87 – 4.36 | More expensive than in some countries |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | ~17.50 | Expensive imported product |
| Beef (1 kg, round cut) | ~18.97 | Red meat expensive |
| Apples (1 kg) | ~3.35 | Non-local product |
| Bananas (1 kg) | ~1.08 | Very cheap, local product |
| Oranges (1 kg) | ~3.22 | Imported or semi-local |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | ~3.09 | |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | ~2.59 | |
| Onions (1 kg) | ~2.12 | |
| Bottle of water 1.5 L | ~1.67 | 0.30 to 3 € depending on brand/location |
| Mid-range bottle of wine | 6 – 8 | |
| Local beer (0.5 L) | ~1.12 – 1.52 |
By shopping at the market for fish, bananas, basic vegetables, and rice, a single person can keep a food budget around 150 to 200 € per month, or even less if they eat very simply. On the other hand, a basket dominated by “European” items (cheese, regular red meat, processed cereals, snacks, dairy products) quickly pushes the bill to 300 to 400 € monthly.
Eating out and having a drink: from very local to European level
Dining out reflects the same duality. In canteens and small restaurants frequented by locals, prices remain very gentle. But in tourist establishments, remote lodges, or beach hotels, the bill can approach that of the Mediterranean coast.
The ranges in euros for a meal are telling:
| Type of meal / establishment | Typical price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Simple breakfast (guesthouse) | 3 – 7 |
| Local dish (fish, rice, banana) in a canteen | 4 – 8 |
| Grilled fish with sides in a local restaurant | 8 – 15 |
| Dinner in a “classic” tourist restaurant | 15 – 35 |
| Meal in a remote lodge or on Príncipe island | 25 – 50 |
| “Inexpensive” meal per international indices | 17.5 – 25 |
| 3-course dinner for 2 in a mid-range restaurant | ~33.7 – 40 (range 22 – 50) |
| Fast-food type “McMeal” | ~7.5 – 8.5 |
On the drinks side:
| Drink in town | Average price (EUR) | Range (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee or cappuccino | ~2.0 – 2.1 | 1 – 2.25 |
| Local draft beer (0.5 L) | ~1.5 | 1.4 – 2 |
| Imported beer (small bottle) | ~1.6 | 1.2 – 1.8 |
| Soda like Coca-Cola (small bottle) | ~1.6 | 1.4 – 2 |
For a French expatriate who eats out reasonably – say 1 to 2 meals per week in a mid-range restaurant, plus a few coffees or beers – a leisure/restaurant budget around 80 to 150 € per month is realistic. International comparisons show that an expat who dines out four times a month will spend much less in São Tomé than in Portugal or the United Kingdom.
Transport: very cheap in local mode, much more expensive with a car
Mobility is another area where the choice of lifestyle weighs heavily. Structured public transport is virtually non-existent, and daily life relies on shared taxis (“táxis amarelos”), motorcycle taxis, and for affluent expatriates, a personal car with driver or long-term rental.
Price data gives a fairly clear picture:
| Transport item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Local transport ticket (single trip) | ~1.07 € |
| Short shared taxi ride | < 1 to 2 € |
| Monthly local transport pass (estimate) | 40 – 55 USD |
| 1 km by private taxi | ~0.84 USD |
| 1 hour taxi waiting time (standard rate) | ~12 – 14 USD / 12 € |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | ~1.42 to 1.77 USD / ~1.40 € |
| Simple car rental (per day) | 35 – 70 € |
| 4×4 rental (per day) | higher |
| Day with driver (half day) | 30 – 60 € |
| Round-trip domestic flight São Tomé – Príncipe | 120 – 220 € |
An expatriate who stays in town and mainly uses shared taxis, a few motorcycle taxis, and occasionally a private taxi can keep a transport budget around 40 to 80 € per month. Conversely, someone who regularly rents a car, especially a 4×4 to explore the island, will see their transport budget skyrocket on rental days (over 1,000 € per month if driving every day).
For a single French person settled long-term, the classic strategy is to live without a car, taking advantage of the low cost of short trips, then occasionally renting a vehicle or driver for longer excursions.
Health: an essential and costly item for an expatriate
On health, São Tomé and Príncipe is clearly the area where it is impossible to think only in terms of “local cost of living”. The public system is theoretically free for citizens, but quality is limited and specialized care is virtually non-existent. For a foreigner, the rule is simple: everything is paid for, often in cash and upfront.
Local hospitals only treat minor issues. For any serious condition (major surgery, cardiology, cancer, high-risk pregnancy), evacuation to Lisbon, Luanda, or a regional hub is essential. International health insurance with repatriation is therefore mandatory.
The figures are very telling:
| Health item for an expatriate | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| General practitioner consultation (private) | ~12 – 15 USD |
| Consultation at a local private clinic | ~8.5 USD (e.g. ~200 dobras) |
| Emergency room visit | ~60 USD |
| Major medical expenses without insurance | Risk of financial catastrophe |
| Medical evacuation (air ambulance) | 50,000 – 150,000 USD |
| International health insurance – single person, basic (~500,000 USD coverage) | 3,000 – 4,500 USD/year (250 – 375 USD/month) |
| International health insurance – single person, comprehensive (unlimited coverage) | 5,000 – 8,000 USD/year (420 – 670 USD/month) |
| International health insurance – family (2 adults + 2 children), basic | 8,000 – 12,000 USD/year |
| International health insurance – family, comprehensive | 12,000 – 20,000 USD/year |
| International health insurance, practical estimate for an expat | ~100 – 150 USD/month (minimum version) |
| International health insurance, estimate in euros | 150 – 300 €/month for a single person |
| Health insurance for a family of 4 | 400 – 600 €/month |
Most sources also recommend setting aside a cash reserve of 10,000 to 20,000 USD to cover emergencies, as hospitals often require immediate payment.
For a French expatriate, this means a “realistic” monthly budget cannot ignore a line item for “international health insurance” somewhere between 150 and 300 € per month for a single person (depending on age and coverage scope), and around 400 to 600 € for a family. This is an item that partially cancels out the savings made on rent, but is essential given the limited local capabilities.
Comparison with France: real advantages, but not everywhere
To know if São Tomé and Príncipe is a “good deal” for a French person, it must be compared to a typical living budget in France. Quality of life indicators show interesting contrasts:
The local cost of living is about 77% of that of France, if France is normalized to 100.
For a single French person used to paying 700 or 800 € in rent in a large metropolitan city, finding a decent 1-bedroom at 250 € and local meals at 4 or 5 € is a breath of fresh air. But that same expatriate will have to accept a finicky internet connection, a virtually non-existent public transport network, power outages, and the anxiety of a possible medical evacuation.
In purely financial terms, studies indicate that:
Financial studies
– A comfortable lifestyle costs 50 to 70% less than in Portugal, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
– Rents are 75 to 85% lower than in those countries.
– The total expenses of a moderate expat can be up to 70% lower than those of a similar lifestyle in the UK or US.
For a French person with a remote income (telecommuting for a European company, freelancing, pension, annuity), São Tomé and Príncipe can therefore offer a very good cost/quality of life ratio – provided they accept the infrastructure limitations and are well covered health-wise.
What monthly budget should a French expatriate concretely plan for?
By bringing together the various items, we can outline typical budgets for a single French person living in São Tomé and Príncipe with a “reasonable expat” standard of living.
Scenario 1: Single French person, comfortable local style
This profile cooks a lot, mainly frequents local restaurants, has no car, lives in a decent 1-bedroom outside the center or in a small center, and takes out basic international health insurance.
Typical monthly budget (in euros, order of magnitude):
| Expense item | Monthly budget (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Rent 1-bedroom outside center or small center | 180 – 220 |
| Utilities (water, electricity, garbage) | 60 – 80 |
| Internet + phone (SIM or fixed) | 30 – 60 |
| Food shopping (mostly local) | 150 – 200 |
| Restaurants and cafés (local, moderate) | 60 – 100 |
| Transport (shared taxis, some private taxis) | 40 – 70 |
| Miscellaneous leisure (cinema, simple sport…) | 30 – 60 |
| International health insurance (basic) | 150 – 200 |
| Miscellaneous / contingencies | 50 – 80 |
| Estimated total | 700 – 970 |
This aligns quite well with the range from many studies: 750 to 950 € for a single person living a comfortable but not excessive life.
Scenario 2: Single French person, pronounced “Western” comfort
This profile rents a high-standard 1 or 2-bedroom in São Tomé city, consumes more imported products, eats out more often, occasionally rents a car, and aims for more robust health coverage.
Typical monthly budget (in euros):
| Expense item | Monthly budget (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Rent 1/2-bedroom in center, good standard | 250 – 400 |
| Utilities (water, electricity, AC) | 80 – 120 |
| Fixed internet + mobile | 60 – 80 |
| Groceries (mix local/imported) | 220 – 300 |
| Restaurants (including tourist restaurants) | 120 – 200 |
| Transport (taxis + some car rentals) | 80 – 150 |
| Leisure and domestic trips | 80 – 150 |
| Serious international health insurance | 200 – 300 |
| Miscellaneous / contingencies | 70 – 100 |
| Estimated total | 1,060 – 1,800 |
This matches the “expat comfort” ranges of 840 to 1,680 USD per month for a single person, or even more if frequent travel abroad is added.
Scenario 3: French family of four, expat standard
For a family with two children, the expenditure structure changes radically. Quality housing, schooling, and health cause the budget to soar.
The total cost of schooling varies considerably depending on the choices made by the student.
– 2,500 to 3,500 USD per month for a “moderate” expat standard,
– 4,500 to 6,000 USD and more for a very Western lifestyle, with imported products, personal vehicle, and private school.
In euros, a family can expect to spend fairly easily between 2,000 and 3,500 € per month excluding major extras (international travel, major repairs, etc.), a good half of which goes to quality housing and health insurance.
Local income vs. French income: a decisive question
All these estimates have one implicit common point: they assume the expatriate has a “Western” income (foreign company salary, pension, investment income) and not just a local salary.
Average salaries in São Tomé and Príncipe remain very low compared to French standards:
– Average net salary given by some sources: 233 to 460 € per month.
– Number of skilled jobs exceeding 1,000 € per month very limited.
– A large part of the working population works in informal jobs or agriculture with monthly incomes sometimes below 100 USD.
A French person living in São Tomé solely on a local salary, without expatriation allowances, would have great difficulty achieving a comfortable standard of living comparable to Europe. This is why most foreign expatriates on the archipelago have other sources of income.
– either an expatriate contract with remuneration aligned with their home country,
– or remote income (telecommuting, freelancing, annuity, pension),
– or personal resources.
It is this configuration that allows you to fully benefit from the cost of living differential. Without it, local salaries simply are not enough to finance international standard housing and family international health insurance.
Conclusion: how much to budget, and for whom is São Tomé and Príncipe really advantageous?
If we had to summarize the budget for a French expatriate in São Tomé and Príncipe, we could say that a reasonable single person can live comfortably around 800 to 1,000 € per month, including health insurance, by largely adopting local habits (modest housing, market products, shared taxi transport).
For a clearly Western lifestyle – high-standard apartment, imported products, regular outings, a few trips to Príncipe island, solid international health insurance – aim instead for between 1,200 and 1,800 € per month for a single person, and at the very least 2,500 to 3,500 € for a family of four, even more if you include a personal vehicle and private schooling.
Compared to France, the United States, or the United Kingdom, the financial gain remains significant: rents divided by three or four, very low cost of local food, cheap simple leisure. But this “bonus” is paid back by:
– fragile infrastructure (outages, uneven internet, limited healthcare system),
– heavy reliance on imports for many products,
– the obligation to take out costly international health insurance,
– limited schooling options at the international standard.
For a French person with a stable remote income and willing to embrace a simpler lifestyle, oriented towards the sea, markets, and the local philosophy “leve-leve”, São Tomé and Príncipe can become an excellent compromise between a reduced cost of living and tropical gentle living. Provided you build your budget with these realities firmly in mind, rather than relying on the vague idea of a “cheap paradise”.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
