Sal Island Cost & Money Guide: Prices, Currency & Budget Tips
Sal Island Cost & Money Guide: Prices, Currency & Budget Tips
Real-world prices for meals, taxis, tours, and groceries, plus essential advice on Euros, cards, and ATMs.
At a Glance: Money Summary
Official currency: Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE).
Exchange rate: The official bank rate is fixed at 1 EUR = 110.265 CVE, but in everyday cash transactions across the island, Euros are widely traded at a simplified local rate of 1 EUR = 100 CVE, with change usually returned in Escudos.
Card acceptance: Cards are accepted at large hotels, resorts, and major tourist restaurants. Taxis, local tascas, street vendors, and minimarkets are strictly cash only.
Daily budget: Around €40–€70 per person for a local or mid-range lifestyle, and €120+ per person for resort and tourist-heavy experiences.
1. Currency Mechanics: Euro vs. Escudo
Official Peg vs. Local Exchange Rates
Cape Verde uses the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), which is officially pegged to the Euro. The official central bank rate is set at 1 EUR = 110.265 CVE, but in daily transactions across Sal Island, vendors and taxis work on an informal local rate of 1 EUR = 100 CVE.
Euros are widely accepted alongside Escudos at resorts, restaurants, taxis, and local shops. When you pay in Euros at local establishments or small shops, your change will almost always come back in Escudos.
Typical Everyday Prices
Local bakeries (pastelarias), cash only€1–1.50
100–150 CVE
Local bars and beach spots€1.50–3
150–300 CVE
Minimarkets, cash€1–2
Traditional tascas, cash only€4–5
400–500 CVE
Tourist restaurants, cash or card, per person€10–18
1,000–1,800 CVE
2. ATMs, Card Acceptance & Bank Fees
Payment Rules by Venue
Resorts and large hotels widely accept Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards as well as Euros. Paying by card or in Euro cash is preferred at check-in and for resort amenities.
Tourist restaurants in Santa Maria mostly accept cards at mid-range and upscale venues, though some set a minimum spend and card terminals occasionally lose signal. Carrying some cash as a backup is recommended.
Local eateries (pastelarias and tascas) are strictly cash only, in Euros or Escudos. If you pay in Euros, expect your change in Escudos.
Taxis and alugueres (shared minibuses) are strictly cash only. Paying with small Euro notes or exact Escudo change is strongly advised.
Souvenir markets and street vendors are strictly cash only, with all bargaining and payment handled in Euro or CVE cash.
ATM & Card Reality Check
Multibanco ATMs on the Vinti4 network are found mainly in Santa Maria town centre, major hotel lobbies, Espargos, and Palmeira. Local ATMs charge an automatic withdrawal fee of around €3 (300 CVE) per transaction, on top of any foreign exchange fees from your home bank.
Visa is supported at all island ATMs and card terminals, while Mastercard can occasionally be patchy at local bank machines.
Money-saving tip: To avoid repeated ATM fees, card surcharges, and poor bank conversion rates, bring physical Euro cash from home to pay directly or exchange locally.
3. Dining Out Costs: Resort vs. Local Eateries
Breakfast & Coffee
Pastelarias and tascas: espresso, fresh pastry, or a traditional omelette€2–4
Full breakfast plates, pancakes, or specialty coffee on Santa Maria's pedestrian strip€5–8
Per person, for non-staying guests€12–20
Lunch (Single Course + Drink)
Tascas: a generous plate of cachupa, daily fish stew, or prato do dia with a soft drink or water€5–8
Grilled tuna steak, pasta, burgers, or wood-fired pizza with a Strela beer€10–16
Beachfront resort dining, fresh seafood salads, or international mains€20–35
Dinner (Two Courses + Drinks)
Tascas: soup or grilled limpets, catch of the day, and a glass of house wine or beer€8–14
Seafood platter, grilled octopus, or prime steak with wine or cocktails€18–30
Gourmet tasting menus, imported fine wines, or fresh spiny lobster€40–70+
Cocktails & Drinks
Traditional caipirinha, grogue, or local beer€3.50–5
Signature cocktails on the pedestrian zone or waterfront€6–9
Imported spirits and premium beach-lounge cocktails€10–15
4. Transport Costs
Official Taxis (Blue Taxis)
Within town or between nearby resort gates€3–5
300–500 CVE
Fixed fare€15–20
1,500–2,000 CVE
Surcharge usually applies after 10:00 PM€20–25
Private taxi, each way€15–20
Agree the fare first: Taxis on Sal don't use meters. Always confirm the fixed fare with your driver before getting in.
Shared Minibuses (Alugueres / HiAces)
Per seat, each way100–150 CVE
~€1–1.50
Per seat, each way100 CVE
~€1
Alugueres are the cheapest way to get around the island. During daylight hours they run continuously along the main asphalt road, stopping when flagged down and leaving once they're full.
Vehicle Rentals
Per day, excluding fuel and security deposit€40–60
Per day; strongly recommended for the sand tracks to Buracona or Shark Bay€70–100
Per day; fine for town roads, not for deep desert sand€25–40
Self-drive daily rental or guided desert safari€60–110
5. Tours & Activities
Classic 1-Day Island Tour
An organised 4x4 or minibus island tour costs around €20–30 per person. This covers full-day group transport to the island's top landmarks: Pedra de Lume, Shark Bay, Buracona, Terra Boa, and Palmeira.
Entry fees are extra: Most island tours don't include site tickets in the base price, so bring cash to pay at each stop.
Salt crater float, plus €1 for the freshwater shower afterwards€6 + €1
Entrance ticket€3
Free entry; rental of required protective water shoes€2–3
Water Sports & Ocean Trips
Per person; includes open bar, snacks, and snorkelling stops€40–60
Pool training plus open-water dive; photo/video package about €30 extra€115
Multi-day certification€250–400
Per day€10–15
Desert & Eco-Tourism Activities
Per vehicle, 2 to 4 hours across the dunes€60–110
Per person; helps fund local loggerhead conservation€25–35
Per flight€9–25
6. Groceries & Supermarket "Price Shock"
Why Imports Cost More
Sal is an arid volcanic island with very little fresh water or farmland, so almost all fresh produce, dairy, toiletries, and packaged goods are imported by sea or air. High freight costs, port handling charges, and import tariffs push supermarket prices well above what you'd pay in mainland Europe.
Grocery Price Examples
Imported fresh milk; UHT long-life milk is about €1.50€2–2.80
Heavy import markup, so pack it from home€18–25
Per package€4–7
Santa Maria minimarkets€4–6
Per kg, depending on recent ship arrivals€3.50–5