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Contents
- At a glance
- How much does a trip to Cape Verde cost? Budgets by traveller profile
- Is Cape Verde expensive?
- Which trip suits your profile
- Flights: how to get to Cape Verde from France and at what price
- Mandatory fees many people forget
- Accommodation: prices by category
- Eating and drinking: reference prices
- Getting between the islands: ferry or plane
- Money: paying, withdrawing and exchanging without losing out
- 7 practical ways to spend less
- Our view
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
For 8 days in Cape Verde, flights included, expect to pay €550 to €950 per person if you travel in economy mode, €750 to €1,300 for an all-inclusive stay in Sal or Boa Vista, and €1,000 to €1,750 for a tour covering two or three islands. The flight from France is often cheaper than people imagine. On the other hand, daily life on the islands and travel between them cost more than in many other countries in the region.
All the prices below were checked in October 2026 with airlines, Cape Verdean authorities and tour operators. The total budgets are Casa di CV estimates, calculated from these prices.
At a glance
- Budget for 8 days / 7 nights per person, flights included: €550 to €950 (economy), €750 to €1,300 (all-inclusive), €1,000 to €1,750 (multi-island tour), €1,800 to €3,100 (comfort). Casa di CV estimate, October 2026.
- Flights: Transavia advertises one-way fares from €95 from Nantes or Bordeaux to Boa Vista, from Nantes to São Vicente, and from Lyon or Marseille to Sal. From Paris-Orly, the starting fares are €124 to São Vicente, €129 to Boa Vista and €140 to Sal (October 2026).
- All-inclusive: from €687 per person for 6 days / 5 nights in Sal, flight included (Selectour, departure from Paris in May 2027).
- Mandatory fees: airport security tax (TSA) of 3,400 CVE (about €31), paid online on EASE at least 5 days before departure, otherwise €64 on arrival. A tourist tax of 276 CVE (€2.50) per night is also payable.
- Between islands: the São Vicente to Santo Antão ferry costs 1,500 CVE (€13.60). CVsky flights start at 7,298 CVE (€66) between Sal and Boa Vista.
- On the ground: a simple meal costs about 750 CVE (€6.80) and a beer 150 CVE (€1.36), according to the tourist office. A double room with half board costs between 2,000 and 3,000 CVE (€18 to €27).
- Currency: the exchange rate is fixed, €1 = 110.265 escudos (CVE). For a quick mental conversion, divide by 110.
How much does a trip to Cape Verde cost? Budgets by traveller profile
Four choices determine your budget: the island, the type of accommodation, the number of islands visited and the time of year. The table below gives an estimate for 8 days / 7 nights per person, based on two adults sharing a room. We built it from the official, published prices quoted further down. Excursions are counted as a lump sum, since they depend entirely on what you want to do.
| Item (8 days / 7 nights, per person) | Economy | All-inclusive Sal / Boa Vista | 2-3 island tour | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return flight from France | €200 – 400 | €690 – 1,050 (package: flight + hotel + meals) | €300 – 600 | €400 – 900 |
| Accommodation (7 nights) | €65 – 95 | €125 – 190 | €350 – 525 | |
| Meals and drinks | €145 – 180 | €240 – 360 | €400 – 640 | |
| TSA + tourist tax | about €49 | €31 + tax if not included | about €49 | about €49 |
| Local and inter-island transport | €70 – 110 | transfers often included | €205 – 300 | €300 – 500 |
| Excursions, guides (lump sum) | €0 – 100 | €0 – 200 | €100 – 250 | €250 – 500 |
| Estimated total | €550 – 950 | €750 – 1,300 | €1,000 – 1,750 | €1,800 – 3,100 |
| Per day, excluding flight | €40 – 70 | — | €90 – 145 | €170 – 275 |
Casa di CV estimate, October 2026. Based on fares from Transavia, CVsky and CV Interilhas, Selectour packages, Routard 2026 prices and those of the Cape Verde tourist office.
For 10 days, add the cost of two extra days at your usual daily rate. That brings the total to roughly €600 to €1,100 in economy mode and €1,200 to €2,050 for a tour, flight included.
Is Cape Verde expensive?
Yes and no. It’s a question English, Spanish and Italian travellers also ask (“is Cape Verde expensive”, “Cabo Verde es caro”, “Capo Verde prezzi”). The answer comes down to two points.
- The journey is affordable. There are many direct flights from France. Starting fares are close to those for the Canary Islands or Morocco.
- Daily life on the islands is more expensive than expected. Almost everything is imported. Routard considers the country surprisingly expensive for the level of service, because of the cost of supplying the islands. A local meal remains affordable (about 750 CVE, or €6.80). By contrast, an international-standard hotel costs €100 to €150 a night, much like southern Europe.
In practice, the all-inclusive stay in Sal or Boa Vista is often the cheapest option for a beach week. A multi-island tour costs more because of domestic flights and ferries. Still, it is the best way to see the country’s diversity. To compare with the neighbouring destination, read our comparison of 3-island tours and our advice on choosing your island.
Which trip suits your profile
You want sun and beaches, without organising anything
- Our pick: an all-inclusive package in Sal. It’s the widest and cheapest offer: €687 to around €900 for 6 days / 5 nights, flight included (Selectour, October 2026).
- An all-inclusive package in Boa Vista: wilder beaches, from €836 for 8 days / 7 nights at the Riu Touareg.
- A flight only and an apartment in Santa Maria (Sal): more freedom, but often a similar budget once meals are counted.
This isn’t for you if you want to see mountains, villages or live music every evening: Sal and Boa Vista are flat islands geared toward beach holidays.
You’re travelling with a backpack on a tight budget
- Our pick: São Vicente + Santo Antão. Direct flight to São Vicente, then the ferry at 1,500 CVE. You stay in guesthouses and hike for free.
- Santiago only: direct flight to Praia (Cabo Verde Airlines from Paris, fare varies by season), shared minibuses, beaches and villages.
- Santiago + Maio: Maio is 3,000 CVE base fare by plane from Praia, and it’s very quiet.
You want to explore the country in 10 to 15 days
- Our pick: a 3-island tour organised with a local agency, for example Santiago, Fogo, then São Vicente and Santo Antão. Transfers, ferries and guides are arranged in advance.
- A self-guided tour: cheaper, but you handle ferry timetables and domestic flights yourself, and these are sometimes changed.
- Just two islands: the best option if you have less than 10 days.
This isn’t for you if you’re looking for the lowest price for a week in the sun: the all-inclusive will cost less.
Planning a trip to Cape Verde?
Tell us about your project: we’ll put you in touch with a local agency that knows every island and will prepare a proposal tailored to your wishes and budget.
Flights: how to get to Cape Verde from France and at what price
The flight is your biggest expense, but also the one where you can save the most. Cape Verde has four international airports: Sal, Boa Vista, Praia (Santiago) and São Vicente. Our guide to airports and flights to Cape Verde details every route.
| Airline | Routes from France | Fare checked (October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transavia | Paris-Orly to Sal, Boa Vista, Praia and São Vicente. Nantes to Boa Vista and São Vicente. Bordeaux to Boa Vista. | One-way from €95 (Praia, Boa Vista, São Vicente) and from €140 (Sal, from Orly) | Tight budgets, direct flight (about 6 h 15 between Orly and Sal) |
| Cabo Verde Airlines | Paris–Praia direct. Paris-CDG–Sal direct from 19 June to 25 September 2026 (summer season), one flight a week on Fridays. | Varies by season | Travellers starting from Praia or Sal for a tour |
| TAP, Royal Air Maroc | With a stopover in Lisbon or Casablanca | Varies | Departures from regional French airports, access to all islands served |
| Packages (Selectour, Héliades, Framissima…) | Flights included, often from Paris, Nantes or Lyon | From €687 with all-inclusive hotel | One-week beach holidays |
The advertised starting fare is a minimum. It applies to certain dates, and checked baggage is often extra. In practice, a realistic return ticket with luggage costs between €250 and €600 depending on the season (Casa di CV estimate). School holidays and the year-end festive period push prices up. For weather by month, see our page on when to go to Cape Verde.
Mandatory fees many people forget
French nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay. Two fees nonetheless remain mandatory. They don’t always appear in the advertised price.
| Fee | Amount | When and how | What happens if you forget it |
|---|---|---|---|
| EASE pre-registration + airport security tax (TSA) | 3,400 CVE (about €31 to €32) | Online at ease.gov.cv, at least 5 days before arrival | You pay at the border police desk, with a surcharge: €64 (6,800 CVE) since early 2026 |
| Tourist tax | 276 CVE (€2.50) per night and per person over 16 | Collected by the accommodation, for up to 10 nights | — |
In practice: for a couple staying 7 nights, expect about €62 in TSA and €35 in tourist tax. Complete your EASE pre-registration as soon as you have your tickets. All formalities are detailed on our page visa and entry requirements for Cape Verde.
Accommodation: prices by category
Accommodation varies the most from one island to another. Sal and Boa Vista have most of the large resort hotels. Santiago, São Vicente, Santo Antão and Fogo mainly offer guesthouses, B&Bs and small hotels.
| Type | Price per night | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse, room with a local family, simple small hotel | 2,000 – 3,000 CVE (€18 – 27) for a double room | All inhabited islands |
| Mid-range hotel with private bathroom | 4,000 – 6,000 CVE (€36 – 54) for a double room | Main towns, Santo Antão, Fogo |
| International-standard hotel | €100 – 150 a night | Sal, Boa Vista, Praia |
| All-inclusive resort (package with flight) | €687 – 1,052 per person for 5 to 7 nights | Sal, Boa Vista |
Sources: Routard (2026) for the first three rows, Selectour (offers checked in October 2026) for the last one.
In the sample of Selectour packages we checked, the lowest starting prices are for May departures. December and February departures are more expensive. To choose your resort hotel, see our rankings of the best hotels in Sal.
Eating and drinking: reference prices
| Product or meal | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Simple good meal (cachupa, fish of the day) | about 750 CVE (€6.80) | Cape Verde tourist office |
| Bottle of water | about 75 CVE (€0.68) | Cape Verde tourist office |
| Beer | about 150 CVE (€1.36) | Cape Verde tourist office |
| Restaurant, from a small family eatery to a meal with lobster | 500 – 4,000 CVE (€4.50 – 36) | Routard 2026 |
The principle is simple. In small neighbourhood restaurants, you eat for a few euros. In the tourist areas of Santa Maria (Sal) or Sal Rei (Boa Vista), prices get closer to those of a European seaside resort. In supermarkets, imported products (cheese, wine, cereals) often cost more than in France. Local products (fish, seasonal fruit, grogue) remain cheap.
Getting between the islands: ferry or plane
This is the item travellers underestimate most. Since 29 March 2026, domestic flights have been operated by CVsky, a new state-owned airline. Ferries are mainly run by CV Interilhas, and by Nôs Ferry between São Vicente and Santo Antão.
| Route (one way) | Mode | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| São Vicente – Santo Antão | Ferry (about 1 h) | 1,500 CVE (€13.60). Nôs Ferry: 1,470 CVE | Several departures a day in each direction (CV Interilhas morning and afternoon, plus Nôs Ferry), the most reliable route in the country |
| Sal – Boa Vista | Ferry | 2,500 CVE (€22.70) | Less frequent than the plane |
| São Vicente – São Nicolau | Ferry | 2,850 CVE (€25.90) | Twice a week |
| Santiago – Fogo | Ferry | 4,450 CVE (€40.40) | Sea often rough |
| São Vicente – Santiago | Ferry | 6,070 CVE (€55) | Long crossing, best for travellers with time to spare |
| Sal – Boa Vista | CVsky flight | From 7,298 CVE (€66) | Starting fare advertised by CVsky |
| Praia – Sal | CVsky flight | From 11,898 CVE (€108) | Starting fare advertised by CVsky |
| Praia – São Vicente | CVsky flight | From 12,498 CVE (€113) | Starting fare advertised by CVsky |
Ferries: non-resident fares checked in October 2026, tickets on cvinterilhas.cv and at the port. Flights: CVsky website, October 2026.
For reference, the civil aviation authority (AAC) publishes maximum base fares excluding taxes for one-way flights. They range from 3,000 CVE (Praia–Maio) to 9,100 CVE (Sal–São Vicente), and taxes are added on top, including a 150 CVE boarding fee per flight. In practice, a 3-island tour that includes one domestic flight and two ferries easily adds €150 to €200 per person to the budget. To plan your connections well, read our guide on how to travel between the Cape Verde islands.
On each island: shared minibuses, taxis and car hire
- Aluguer: a shared minibus or pick-up that leaves when full. It’s the cheapest way to travel from one village to another. Ask the driver for the price before getting in.
- Taxi: most islands have no meters. Agree the price before the ride, especially when leaving the airports.
- Hire car: practical on Santiago, Sal or Boa Vista. On Santo Antão and Fogo, many travellers prefer a driver-guide, as mountain roads require experience.
Planning a trip to Cape Verde?
Tell us about your project: we’ll put you in touch with a local agency that knows every island and will prepare a proposal tailored to your wishes and budget.
Money: paying, withdrawing and exchanging without losing out
- The exchange rate is fixed: €1 = 110.265 CVE, under a monetary cooperation agreement with Portugal. So there is no currency risk.
- The euro is accepted in many places, especially in Sal and Boa Vista, but the rate applied is rarely favourable. Keep some escudos for small purchases and aluguers.
- Cash machines don’t all accept foreign cards. Visa is better accepted than Mastercard, and ATMs are mostly found in the main towns (Routard 2026). On the smaller islands, bring cash.
- When leaving the country, escudos can only be exchanged locally, and an authorisation is required above 20,000 CVE (about €181) per person. In practice: exchange your leftover escudos at the airport before flying home.
For details and a currency converter, see our page on money and exchange in Cape Verde.
7 practical ways to spend less
- Complete your EASE online at least 5 days before departure: that saves you €32 per person compared with paying at the desk.
- Aim for the direct Transavia flights from Nantes or Bordeaux if you live in western France. The starting fares are the lowest there (€95).
- Choose an arrival island that fits your itinerary. Arriving directly in São Vicente or Praia saves you a domestic flight costing more than €100.
- Choose the ferry over the plane when a regular route exists, such as São Vicente–Santo Antão at €13.60.
- Limit the number of islands: two well-chosen islands in 8 days cost less and are less tiring than four.
- Eat in neighbourhood restaurants and buy local rather than imported.
- Compare a package with a à la carte trip for a week in Sal. The all-inclusive package is often cheaper than booking flight, apartment and restaurants separately.
Our view
For a beach week, the all-inclusive in Sal or Boa Vista offers the best value for money. To discover Cape Verde in all its diversity (the mountains of Santo Antão, the volcano of Fogo, the music of Mindelo), expect to spend a little more and plan the logistics between islands carefully. This is where a local agency saves you time, and often money: it knows which ferries really run and what time you need to arrive at the airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average budget for a trip to Cape Verde?
For 8 days, flights included, expect about €550 to €950 per person in economy mode, €750 to €1,300 all-inclusive in Sal or Boa Vista, and €1,000 to €1,750 for a tour of 2 or 3 islands. These are Casa di CV estimates, based on prices checked in October 2026. Excluding flights, the daily budget ranges from about €40 to more than €250 depending on your travel style.
What budget do I need for 10 days in Cape Verde?
Expect about €600 to €1,100 per person in economy mode and €1,200 to €2,050 for a multi-island tour, flight included. The difference comes mainly from domestic flights (from €66 one way with CVsky) and the level of accommodation. Add the TSA (about €31) and the tourist tax of €2.50 per night.
How do I get to Cape Verde from France?
Transavia flies direct from Paris-Orly to Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente, and from Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille to certain islands, with starting fares from €95 one way from regional airports (October 2026). Cabo Verde Airlines serves Praia from Paris, and served Sal in summer 2026 (from 19 June to 25 September). TAP and Royal Air Maroc offer flights with a stopover in Lisbon or Casablanca.
Is Cape Verde expensive?
The flight is inexpensive, but daily life on the islands costs more than people think, because most products are imported. A local meal costs about 750 CVE (€6.80). An international-standard hotel, by contrast, costs €100 to €150 a night. For a beach week, the all-inclusive package is often the most economical option.
Which taxes must I pay to enter Cape Verde?
You must pre-register on the EASE platform and pay the airport security tax of 3,400 CVE (about €31), at least 5 days before arrival. If you pay at the airport desk, the amount rises to €64 since early 2026. On site, accommodation collects a tourist tax of 276 CVE (€2.50) per night for people over 16, for up to 10 nights.
Can I pay in euros in Cape Verde?
Yes, in many establishments, especially in Sal and Boa Vista. But the rate applied is rarely as good as the fixed official rate of 110.265 CVE for €1. Keep some escudos for small purchases, aluguers and smaller islands, where cash machines are scarcer.
Is an all-inclusive trip cheaper than a à la carte trip?
For a beach week in Sal or Boa Vista, it often is: packages start around €690 with flights and all meals (Selectour, October 2026). For visiting several islands, however, an à la carte trip or a tour organised by a local agency is the only real option.
Sources
- Transavia – Flights to Cape Verde (starting fares by city) (accessed 2026-10)
- CVsky – Domestic flight fares (accessed 2026-10)
- CVsky – Homepage, offers and 2026-2027 winter schedule (accessed 2026-10)
- Civil Aviation Agency (AAC) – Fare and tax, domestic flights (accessed 2026-10)
- Publituris – CVsky launches domestic flights on 29 March (2026) (accessed 2026-10)
- Caboverde24 – Airport security tax: payment at the airport costs double in 2026 (accessed 2026-10)
- Routard – Entry formalities for Cape Verde (EASE, TSA) (accessed 2026-10)
- Routard – Money and budget in Cape Verde (accessed 2026-10)
- Forbes África Lusófona – Tourist tax rises to 276 escudos per night (2023) (accessed 2026-10)
- Visit Cabo Verde (tourist office) – Currency and costs (accessed 2026-10)
- Ondas – São Vicente–Santo Antão ferry, timetables and prices 2026 (accessed 2026-10)
- Ondas – CV Interilhas, routes and fares 2026 (accessed 2026-10)
- Cape Verde Islands – Ferry, fares October 2026 (accessed 2026-10)
- MisterTravel – Cabo Verde Airlines: direct Sal–Paris flight from June 2026 (accessed 2026-10)
- Selectour – All-inclusive stays in Cape Verde (accessed 2026-10)
- Verification (accessed 2026-10)
Are you planning a trip to Cape Verde?
To organize your stay, we work with a local agency based in Cape Verde, which knows the archipelago island by island. Tailor-made tours, accommodation, inter-island flights, excursions: describe your project, we put you in touch and the agency prepares a proposal tailored to your wishes and budget.
Written by Adilson Gomes Garcia
Founder of Casa di CV and Gomia-Voyage, I was born in Santiago and I am committed to showcasing African territories, starting with Cape Verde. Through my platforms, I help travelers and curious minds better understand these destinations, their cultures and their realities, so they can plan authentic and respectful trips. My goal: to offer a clear, local and useful perspective for discovering Africa as it really is, with its riches and its identity.
