How Much Does a Trip to Cape Verde Cost? Budget Guide

Good news: Cape Verde remains an affordable destination, halfway between a budget trip and a comfortable getaway. The biggest expense is the flight to the archipelago; once there, prices are reasonable. As a guide, allow €30 to €90 per day per person on the ground depending on your comfort level, excluding airfare. Here is the cost breakdown, plus our tips for travelling cheaper.

The prices below are indicative for 2026 and vary by season, airline and availability.

Travel style	Budget / day on site*	What it covers
Backpacker	≈ €30 to €45	Simple guesthouse, local meals, aluguers, few excursions
Mid-range	≈ €60 to €90	Mid-range hotel, restaurants, one excursion per day
High-end	€120 and up	Resort or boutique hotels, private tours, car rental

*Excluding international flight.

Flights: the biggest expense

The plane ticket often accounts for half the budget. From Europe, expect on average €300 to €600 return depending on season and airline. Charter flights serve Sal and Boa Vista (the beach islands) directly, while the classic route goes via Lisbon with TAP Portugal — about 3.5 hours' flight from the Portuguese capital. If you're coming to hike, aim for São Vicente airport (Mindelo), the gateway to Santo Antão. Prices climb during school holidays and high season: travelling in the shoulder season saves a lot — see our guide when to visit Cape Verde.

Formalities and taxes: what to plan for

For European travellers (EU, UK, Switzerland…), no visa is required for tourist stays under 30 days. However, two steps are mandatory for everyone: online pre-registration on the official EASE platform (ease.gov.cv), at least 5 days before departure, and payment of an airport security tax of about €31 (3,400 escudos) per person at registration. Add a tourist tax of about €2 per person per night, collected directly by your accommodation. Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months and travel insurance (not compulsory but strongly recommended). No vaccinations are required. Travellers of other nationalities should check the current rules, which changed in early 2026.

Accommodation

Options range from family guesthouses to all-inclusive resorts. Expect around €25 to €50 a night for a room in a pension or guesthouse, €50 to €100 for a mid-range hotel, and more for the clubs and resorts of the beach islands Sal and Boa Vista, often sold all-inclusive. Homestays, common on Santo Antão treks, are among the most authentic — and cheapest — experiences.

Eating and drinking

One of Cape Verde's best deals. In a local restaurant, a generous dish — often fresh fish or cachupa, the national dish — costs €5 to €12. More touristy places run €15 to €25 per meal. Fish and seafood take pride of place, washed down with grogue, the local sugar-cane spirit. Eat local and you'll spend very little.

Getting around

On the ground, getting around is cheap. Aluguers, the shared taxis, link towns and villages for a few euros. To hop between islands, allow about €60 to €120 for a domestic flight, or take the ferry — the Mindelo–Porto Novo crossing (to Santo Antão) costs around ten euros. Car rental runs €40 to €60 per day. For the full picture, see our guide getting around Cape Verde.

Activities and excursions

The budget depends on your programme. A day trip with a driver-guide generally costs €40 to €80 per person (often cheaper in groups). Guided hikes vary with duration and support, and nature outings — turtle watching on Boa Vista, whales in spring — sit around €50 to €85. Booking through a local agency often gets you better rates and seamless logistics.

How much for a week in Cape Verde?

Adding flights and on-the-ground spending, as a rough guide: around €700 to €900 per person for a backpacker week, €1,200 to €1,600 for a comfortable trip, and over €2,000 for high-end. A multi-island trip costs a little more (domestic flights or ferries), but that's what makes Cape Verde so rewarding — see which island to choose in Cape Verde.

How to travel Cape Verde on a budget?

A few simple levers to cut costs:

• Travel in the shoulder season: flights and accommodation are much cheaper.

• Choose pensions and guesthouses over resorts.

• Eat local: Cape Verdean cuisine is delicious and cheap.

• Share excursions with others: rates are often tiered.

• Book your multi-island trip through a local agency: local rates, optimised transfers and no nasty surprises.

• Bring some euros in cash (widely accepted) and change the rest into escudos locally.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cape Verde expensive?

No, Cape Verde is a fairly affordable destination. The flight is the main cost; on the ground, allow €30 to €90 per day per person depending on comfort level.

What budget for a week in Cape Verde?

As a rough guide, a week in Cape Verde comes to about €700 to €900 per person on a budget, and €1,200 to €1,600 for a comfortable trip, international flight included.

Do you need a visa for Cape Verde?

European travellers need no visa for stays up to 30 days. Online pre-registration on the EASE platform and an airport security tax of about €31 remain mandatory for everyone. Other nationalities should check current rules.

What currency is used in Cape Verde?

The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), pegged to the euro. Euros are widely accepted, but some escudos in cash are handy for small purchases.

How much is a flight to Cape Verde?

On average €300 to €600 return from Europe, depending on season and airline.

How to visit Cape Verde cheaply?

Travel in the shoulder season, sleep in guesthouses, eat local, share excursions, and book through a local agency to optimise rates and logistics.

Optimise your budget with a local agency

Affordable, varied and authentic, Cape Verde suits every budget, from backpack to comfort. As a 100% local agency, Actour helps you optimise yours: local rates, transfers, inter-island logistics and help with formalities. Contact our team for a tailor-made quote, and browse our Cape Verde hiking tours for inspiration.

Want to keep your budget in check without sacrificing the experience? ✨ Build your tailor-made trip in 2 minutes with our AI assistant — or discover our guided tours with our 100% local team.