Cabo Verde
Profiled in Praia · West Africa
Praia hums with morna guitars, hilltop plazas and hard Atlantic light, a easygoing island capital where Portuguese order meets Creole warmth.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Local produce, fish and rum are cheap, but almost everything else is imported by ship, so groceries, cars and electronics cost more than the modest rents suggest. Praia is the priciest place in the country.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Praia
- Plateau (Platô)The colonial old town on a flat-topped hill, the historic and administrative heart of Praia.
- Praca Alexandre AlbuquerqueThe leafy central square on the Plateau, ringed by pastel colonial buildings and a bandstand.
- Sucupira MarketThe city's huge, chaotic open-air market for cloth, produce and everything else.
- Palacio da Cultura Ildo LoboA grand former presidential palace, now a cultural centre with exhibitions.
- Museu Etnografico da PraiaA small ethnographic museum on the Plateau covering island crafts and daily life.
- Quebra Canela beachThe main city beach, a golden strip that fills up at weekends with families and beach bars.
- PrainhaA smaller cove beach near the hotels, calmer and good for a swim.
- Fortim d'El-ReiA ruined hilltop fort above the Plateau with sweeping views over the harbour and city.
- GamboaThe seafront district and festival ground that hosts Praia's big summer music nights.
- Diogo Gomes monumentA statue of the navigator credited with reaching the islands, a landmark on the Plateau.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- Cidade VelhaThe first European town in the tropics, a UNESCO site 15 km west with a hilltop fort and old slave-trade streets.
- TarrafalTwo hours north on Santiago for a calm palm-backed beach and the sobering former prison camp museum.
- Serra MalaguetaA cool green mountain park in Santiago's spine with hiking trails and big island views.
- Fogo islandA short flight to the black slopes of Pico do Fogo, where families live and grow vines inside the volcano's caldera.
- Maio islandA quiet ferry or flight away for empty white-sand beaches and almost no crowds.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Cafe SofiaA long-running landmark cafe right on Praca Alexandre Albuquerque, good for strong coffee and people-watching on the Plateau.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Quintal da MusicaThe city's famous restaurant and live-music venue, serving cachupa and grilled fish while morna and coladeira play.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Cafe SofiaThe reliable morning stop on the main square for coffee, fresh juice and pastries before the heat builds.
Residency
Cabo Verde grants renewable temporary residence to people who can show income or an investment, with permanent residence available after about five years. There is no golden visa, but buying property or proving a steady income makes the paperwork straightforward.
Tax
Residents pay progressive personal income tax topping out in the mid-20s percent, and there is no wealth tax. The islands run several investment and tourism incentives, so it pays to get local advice before you move money in.
Thinking about moving here for real? See the verified Cabo Verde residency and citizenship routes →
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Cabo Verde tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
Nearby