Practical guide · updated October 2026
Living in Cape Verde: costs, healthcare, safety and how to move
What living in Boa Vista is really like: how much you spend each month, how healthcare, internet and paperwork work, and the pros and cons. Written by people who have been on the island since 1998.
In short
The things to know first
- Flight from Italyaround 6 hoursSeasonal direct flights from Milan, Verona and Rome; all year round via Lisbon.
- Time difference−2 hoursCompared with Italy in winter, −3 hours during Italian summer time.
- LanguagePortuguese and CreoleIn Sal Rei many people understand Italian: the Italian community is large.
- Currencyescudo, fixed rate€1 = 110.265 escudos: no exchange-rate risk, and euros are widely used.
- Climatesunshine all year roundFrom around 22 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer, with very little rain. See today’s weather.
- For a couple€1,200–1,900 a monthRenting, including groceries, bills and health insurance. Much less if you own your home.
The cost of living
How much you spend each month in Boa Vista
- Renting a one-bedroom flat€400–650In Sal Rei, long-term. Near the sea and furnished, it costs more.
- Groceries for two€350–500Pasta, cheese and wine are imported and cost as much as in Italy or more; fresh fish, local fruit and labour are cheap.
- Electricity€70–150Electricity is expensive: it comes from imported fuel. Air conditioning makes the difference.
- Water€20–40It is desalinated seawater: for drinking, people use bottled water.
- Internet and phonefrom €15–30Fibre in Sal Rei, 4G across the whole island.
- Private health insurancevariesRecommended for anyone living here long-term: the price depends on age and cover.
Indicative 2026 figures, gathered from up-to-date guides and our own experience: they vary a lot with lifestyle. If you buy a home, instead of rent you pay service charges and the annual IPI tax (0.1% of the value). See house prices in Boa Vista.
The pros
- Sun and sea all year round, clean air, a relaxed pace of life
- Lower cost of living than Italy for services and labour
- Homes still affordable: many under €100,000
- Direct flights from Italy in around 6 hours
- A large Italian community in Sal Rei
- A quiet island, among the safest in Cape Verde
The cons (better to know them first)
- Basic healthcare: for serious cases you go to another island or abroad
- Imported products are expensive and sometimes impossible to find
- Electricity and water cost more than in Italy
- Slow bureaucracy, in Portuguese
- Strong wind from December to March
- A small island: for some, after a while, too quiet
Everyday life
Healthcare, safety, internet and getting around
In Sal Rei there is the public Centro de Saúde and private clinics for basic care. For complex tests or serious emergencies you go to Sal, to Praia or to Europe: that is why health insurance with repatriation cover is important.
The Italian Foreign Ministry reports no particular public-order concerns; on the more touristy islands, Boa Vista included, there is theft and pickpocketing. Common sense is enough: avoid isolated beaches at night and keep valuables safe.
Fibre-optic broadband in Sal Rei and 4G from the two operators, Alou (formerly CV Móvel) and Unitel T+. Buy your SIM card at their shops in town, not at the airport. Remote working is perfectly possible.
Sal Rei is easy to explore on foot; for the rest of the island people use taxis, aluguer (shared pick-ups) or a hire car. Between the islands there are domestic flights and ferries.
Supermarkets, the fish market, banks with cash machines, pharmacies and restaurants are in the centre of Sal Rei. Many shops and services are run by Italians.
State schools teach in Portuguese. Italian families who move with children often choose an online Italian school or keep their children in school in Italy: this needs thinking through beforehand.
Paperwork
How to move here
- Come and try itFor Italian citizens, a passport is enough for the first trips: no visa for up to 30 days, with EASE registration and the airport tax paid at least 5 days before departure.
- Get a NIF and a bank accountThe Cape Verdean tax number and a bank account are needed for the home, the utilities and everyday life.
- Apply for residencyAt the foreigners’ service, or with the Green Card if you buy a home for at least €120,000 with funds from abroad.
- Sort things out in Italy (Italian citizens)Registration with AIRE within 90 days if you move for more than 12 months, notifications to INPS and the local health authority (ASL), and tax choices with your accountant.
All the details on residency, the Green Card and pensions are on the Residency and retirees page; tax on pensions in Living in Cape Verde as a retiree; work in Working in Cape Verde.
Where to live
The areas of Sal Rei, for different lifestyles
Everything within walking distance: shops, restaurants, the market. Ideal if you live here all year and do not want a car.
On Sal Rei’s best-loved beach, a few minutes from the centre. Sea views and beach life.
Quieter and newer, with residences and pools: also good for letting to tourists.
Residences with some of the most affordable prices, handy for the centre.
Our advice: try it first
Spend a few weeks in Boa Vista, ideally in different seasons, before deciding. You can stay in our holiday flat in Sal Rei.
Want to see some homes?
On a viewing trip you see the island, the areas and the properties in one week, with us at your side.
Frequently asked questions about living in Cape Verde
How much does it cost to live in Cape Verde per month?
In Boa Vista, a couple renting will spend roughly €1,200 to €1,900 a month on housing, groceries, bills and health insurance. If you own your home, the figure drops considerably.
Can a foreigner move to Cape Verde?
Yes. Italian citizens can enter without a visa for 30 days (with EASE registration); to stay, you apply for residency, also through the Green Card if you buy a home for at least €120,000. Italian citizens then register with AIRE in Italy.
Is Cape Verde dangerous?
No, Boa Vista is a quiet island. As in all tourist areas there is petty theft: the usual precautions apply, such as avoiding isolated beaches at night.
What is healthcare like in Boa Vista?
For basic care there is the public health centre and private clinics in Sal Rei; for serious cases you go to another island or to Europe. For anyone living here, health insurance with repatriation cover is recommended.
Is Italian spoken in Boa Vista?
The official languages are Portuguese and Creole, but in Sal Rei the Italian community is large and Italian is spoken in many shops, restaurants and services.
Is it worth retiring to Cape Verde?
For many people, yes: they love the climate, the pace and the costs. But an Italian pension generally remains taxed in Italy, as there is no double taxation treaty: Italian retirees should work out the figures with a patronato or an accountant. See Living in Cape Verde as a retiree.
Let’s talk
Thinking of moving to Boa Vista?
Tell us about your plans: we will tell you which areas and homes suit living here all year round.
General information updated October 2026. Sources: Viaggiare Sicuri (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cape Verde travel advice of August 2026), 2026 cost-of-living guides and our own experience on the island since 1998. Rules on residency, visas and taxes change: always check with your consulate, a lawyer in Cape Verde and your accountant.