Botswana vs São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe costs roughly 23% less than Botswana, though Botswana has significantly faster internet infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
São Tomé and Príncipe is approximately 23% less expensive than Botswana based on cost of living including rent. This makes São Tomé and Príncipe a more expensive option for expats considering a move.
Botswana has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 49.8, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Botswana is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Botswana
Retirees with a dedicated income stream and low expectations for healthcare infrastructure fit here: rent under $300/mo and a clear Retiree Residence Permit offset a middling 45.3 healthcare score and 61-year life expectancy. No digital nomad visa and a 25% income tax rule out remote workers chasing tax efficiency. Bad fit: anyone needing a large expat network, fast PR, or serious medical care nearby.
$2,207/mo
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São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé
About São Tomé and Príncipe
This microstate suits off-grid remote workers who can tolerate spotty internet and near-zero English support. A single person lives on $719/month excluding rent, with a city-center 1BR at just $270. There is no digital nomad visa and no retirement visa, so anyone staying long-term is working outside a defined legal framework, a real liability given the progressive income tax rate that reaches 25%.
$2,011/mo
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| Metric | Botswana | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | N/A |
| Quality of Life Index | 101.3 +24.8 | 76.5 |
| Healthcare Index | 45.3 | 48.7 +3.4 |
| Safety Index | 49.8 | 64.8 +15.0 |
| Cost of Living Index | 39.5 | 32 +7.5 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $519.6 +199.4 | $719 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,897.8 +72.2 | $1,970 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $273.3 | $270 +3.3 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $185.11 +1.89 | $187 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $500.55 +102.45 | $603 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $322.42 +146.58 | $469 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 79.64 Mbps +79.6 | 0 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in São Tomé and Príncipe. File confidently from abroad.
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Get covered before you move to São Tomé and Príncipe. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Botswana and São Tomé and Príncipe, side by side.
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