Sao Tome and Principe, All Areas

Overview

Sao Tome and Principe, All Areas Sao Tome and Principe is in Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon. The climate is tropical, hot and humid with one rainy season (October to May).

The official language is Portuguese. Foreigners who cannot speak the language might find it difficult to communicate. French is commonly spoken, but English is not widely understood. The main religion is Christianity.

The economy of Sao Tome and Principe, while traditionally dependent on cocoa, is experiencing considerable changes due to investment in the development of its oil industry its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

Expatriate business dress is relatively informal, comprising trousers and a shirt without tie are acceptable for men, and a smart dress for women.

The security risk for expatriates in Sao Tome and Principe is low. Risks include petty crime, such as pickpocketing while violent crime is rare. Other risks include those associated with poor infrastructure, particularly the roads and rural areas.

The currency of Sao Tome and Principe is the Sao Tome/Principe Dobra (STD). Credit cards acceptance is limited. There are no ATMs.

Medical facilities are limited. Serious or complex medical treatment may require evacuation which can be expensive.

The population of Sao Tome and Principe is 200,000 (2019 est.), while the inflation rate (CPI) is 9.1% for Sao Tome and Principe as at March 2019.

Xpatulator Hypothetical Tax for Sao Tome and Principe is based on the current personal income tax rates which are progressive up to 25%.

Cost Of Living

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Sao Tome and Principe as at 1 April 2019 is very high in comparison to other places in the world.

In Sao Tome and Principe, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports):
1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: Average
2) Clothing: Very Low
3) Communication: Very High
4) Education: Very High
5) Furniture & Appliances: High
6) Groceries: Very High
7) Healthcare: Average
8) Household Accommodation: Low
9) Miscellaneous: Very High
10) Personal Care: Very High
11) Recreation & Culture: Very High
12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Low
13) Transport: High

Sao Tome and Principe is for example 14.8% more expensive than USA for groceries, -19.3% cheaper for household costs than UK, and 141.7% more expensive for transport costs than India.

Sao Tome and Principe is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.

The hardship premium for Sao Tome and Principe for an expat from Australia, is for example 20%, i.e. host location (Sao Tome and Principe) premium of 30% minus home (Australia) location premium of 10%.

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The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Sao Tome and Principe as at 1 April 2019 is very high in comparison to other places in the world.

Sao Tome and Principe is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.