Business
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (living >183 days).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35%
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific strict CFC rules compared to EU.
- Property Tax
- IUP (Single Property Tax) – approx 1.5% of the property value.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Property transfer tax (Sisa) is roughly 1.5%.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Remote Working Cabo Verde Visa offers exemption from income tax for earners from outside the country.
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €44,000).
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard rate.
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €30,000).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €60,000).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €650 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €39,000).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €72,000).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €48,000).
Essentials
- City
- Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
- Population
- 78,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 20-40 Mbps via Fiber; CV Telecom/CVMóvel 4G is reliable.
- Currency & Banking
- Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE). 1 EUR ≈ 110.27 CVE (Fixed rate). 1 USD ≈ 104 CVE.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (approx. 100 CVE for 1.5L).
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard).
- SIM Card
- Alou (CV Movel) or Unitel T+; 5GB data package costs roughly 1,500 CVE ($14).
- Banking for Expats
- Banco Comercial do Atlântico (BCA) or Caixa Económica. Revolut/Wise work at Vinti4 ATMs.
- Accommodation
- Apartments via Airbnb or local groups; monthly rentals range from €400 to €900.
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially. Cards accepted in hotels/upscale restaurants; local markets and small shops are cash-only.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Residencial Gaudi.
- Budget Accommodation
- Simabo's Backpackers (Hostel) - approximately 1,600 CVE per night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center (Centro) near Rua Lisboa and the waterfront (Porto Grande).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Alto Mira or Laginha for proximity to the beach and better modern apartment blocks.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Mansa Floating Hub (Mindelo Bay) - roughly €20/day for high-speed internet and unique floating office views.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Nautilus (Laginha Beach) - offers reliable Wi-Fi, sea views, and good coffee (150 CVE).
- Networking Events
- MindelAct International Theatre Festival (September) or local startup meetups at Casa da Morna.
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Cape Verde groups and the 'Expats in Cape Verde' Facebook community.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps; white taxis are ubiquitous. Flat city rate is 200 CVE (day) / 250 CVE (night).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cabo Verde Adventure (near the Marina) - approx. €25/day for scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Praia da Laginha (Walking distance from center) - turquoise waters, white sand.
- Top Regional Airline
- BestFly Cabo Verde (Inter-island flights).
- Top International Airline
- TAP Air Portugal (via Lisbon) or TACV Cabo Verde Airlines.
- Highway Access
- EN1-SV-01 connects Mindelo to São Pedro Airport (15-minute drive).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains. The 'Praca da Estrela' is the hub for Aluguer (shared vans) to other parts of the island.
- Public Transport Passes
- Transcor bus system; 40 CVE per single trip. No monthly passes for tourists.
- Regional Travel
- Ferry to Santo Antão (CV Interilhas); 800 CVE one way, takes 1 hour.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Baptista de Sousa (Public) or Clinic Médica da Urgência (Private).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogalv Mindelo (Private sessions/small groups) - approx. 1,000 CVE per class.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Ginásio الحمد لله (Alhamdullilah) or Health Club Mindelo - monthly memberships around 3,500 CVE.
- Laundry Services
- Lavandaria Super Limpo (Rua de Santo Antonio) - approx. 600 CVE per load.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None widely used; some local restaurants offer WhatsApp delivery (e.g., Pizzeria O Libanês).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Catchupa (slow-cooked corn and bean stew); 400-600 CVE at local eateries.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- La Pergola (Rua de Luz) - offers Mediterranean veg options.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelaria Chantilly - famous for 'Pudim de Leite'.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado Municipal (Fresh produce) and Chinese-run retail stores for dry goods.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Limited; locals use Facebook Marketplace or order from mainland Portugal via freight forwarders.
- Grocery Delivery
- Fragata Supermarket (Order via phone/WhatsApp in selected areas).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua de Lisboa and the Marina Mindelo area.
- Local Brewery
- Strela (Cerveja de Cabo Verde) - found at any bar for approx. 150 CVE.
- Wine Bars
- Casa da Morna (Wine with live Fado/Morna music).
- Street Food Stalls
- Market stalls at Praça Estrela selling fried fish and pastel corn snacks.
- Popular International Cuisine
- U Sabor (Fusion) or Jazzy Bird (Bistro/International).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Torre de Belém (Replica of the Lisbon original) and the Palácio do Povo.
- Museums & Art Venues
- CNAD (National Centre for Art, Crafts and Design) - entry approx. 200 CVE.
- Historical Sites
- Fortim del Rei (Old fort ruins with panoramic views over the bay).
- Religious Sites
- Nossa Senhora da Luz Cathedral.
- Annual Events
- Mindelo Carnival (February/March) - world-famous Rio-style celebration.
- Cultural Districts
- Ribeira Bote (The cultural heart and historical district).
- Theater Venues
- Centro Cultural do Mindelo.
- Local Markets
- Peixe Market (Fish market) near the harbor.
- Music Scene
- Livelo (Live music almost every night) and the Baía das Gatas Music Festival (August).
- Street Art
- Murals reflecting Cesária Évora located throughout the city center.
- Cooking Classes
- Organized via local guesthouses like Casa Branca.
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Alternativa.
- Historic Buildings
- Mindelo Town Hall (Câmara Municipal).
- Local Heritage
- The 'Morna' musical genre, recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Monte Verde (Tallest point on the island) - hiking trails with 360-degree views.
- National Parks Nearby
- Monte Verde Protected Area.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The coastal road from Laginha to Matiota.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The road to Monte Verde offers the best views of the city and bay.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sewage ponds near the airport (surprisingly good for migratory species).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Praia Grande (East coast) - wilder beach suitable for beach fires.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios de Cabo Verde (Post office) and DHL Mindelo.
- Tech Repair Services
- Izi-IT (Computer and phone repair in the center).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local sports clubs (Grémio Sportivo Castilho).
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (Mindelo) for French/Portuguese; local tutors for Creol.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal de São Vicente.
- Community Centers
- Centro de Juventude do Mindelo.
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; small local gaming cafes near secondary schools.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Royal Atlantic Casino.