Ilesha vs Sal
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Sal is approximately 10% less expensive than Ilesha based on cost of living including rent. This makes Sal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Sal has a FIRE Score of 89/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Sal is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowNigeria
Ilesha
Cape Verde
Sal
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Sal
Sal is a budget expat's dream, with a one-bedroom in the center running just $253/mo and total monthly costs for a single adult starting at $650/mo, yet the local average salary of $253/mo means you're living large on foreign income. The island's safety index of 80/100 and good healthcare make it a solid retiree pick, but the digital nomad score of 67/100 takes a hit because the remote working visa demands a hefty $5,043/mo minimum income, far above the comfortable tier's $1,500/mo budget. You'll find English common in tourist areas and a medium expat community clustered around Santa Maria and Espargos, but don't expect fast internet at 25 Mbps. For pure value and a laid-back Atlantic vibe, Sal is hard to beat, though it's not the place for high earners chasing connectivity or career growth.
About Cape Verde
Digital nomads with a USD 5,043/mo income floor get an easy remote work visa, low rent (under $470 in the city center), and high safety at Travel Advisory Level 1, but the 27.5% income tax bites hard against those modest thresholds. This works for someone prioritizing safety and cost over healthcare quality or connectivity. Skip it if you need English-speaking doctors, fast internet, or a clear path to residency.
Ilesha costs roughly 6% less than Sal. Sal scores significantly higher on safety and retiree suitability — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Sal is approximately 10% less expensive than Ilesha based on cost of living including rent. This makes Sal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Sal has a FIRE Score of 89/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Sal is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Ilesha
Ilesha is cheap, and that is the whole pitch: a one-bedroom outside the center runs $180/mo and a single adult can scrape by on $414/mo, so your money stretches further here than in most Nigerian cities. But you pay for it in safety, with a crime index of 70 and a safety index of 30, and healthcare quality is poor, which should give anyone with medical needs pause. The 10 Mbps average internet and limited English proficiency make it a hard sell for remote workers, and at 193 km from LOS you are not popping into Lagos on a whim. Come for the low rent and the 77/100 FIRE score, not for comfort or connection.
About Nigeria
Skip this one if safety is non-negotiable: a -1.88 political stability score and Level 3 US travel advisory rule out casual retirement. Low overall score and no digital nomad visa reflect real structural risk, not just perception. Only for those with existing Nigerian ties or high risk tolerance chasing genuinely low costs, English fluency, and business opportunity.
$2,439/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Sal
Cape VerdeAbout Sal
Sal is a budget expat's dream, with a one-bedroom in the center running just $253/mo and total monthly costs for a single adult starting at $650/mo, yet the local average salary of $253/mo means you're living large on foreign income. The island's safety index of 80/100 and good healthcare make it a solid retiree pick, but the digital nomad score of 67/100 takes a hit because the remote working visa demands a hefty $5,043/mo minimum income, far above the comfortable tier's $1,500/mo budget. You'll find English common in tourist areas and a medium expat community clustered around Santa Maria and Espargos, but don't expect fast internet at 25 Mbps. For pure value and a laid-back Atlantic vibe, Sal is hard to beat, though it's not the place for high earners chasing connectivity or career growth.
About Cape Verde
Digital nomads with a USD 5,043/mo income floor get an easy remote work visa, low rent (under $470 in the city center), and high safety at Travel Advisory Level 1, but the 27.5% income tax bites hard against those modest thresholds. This works for someone prioritizing safety and cost over healthcare quality or connectivity. Skip it if you need English-speaking doctors, fast internet, or a clear path to residency.
$2,441/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Ilesha | Sal |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $280 | $253.49 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $180 | $167.3 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $420 | $304.19 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $280 | $202.79 |
| Safety Index | 30 | 80 |
| Internet Speed | 10Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ilesha | Sal |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $561/mo | $559/mo |
| Excluding rent | $381/mo | $392/mo |
| Rent | $180/mo | $167/mo |
| Groceries | $137/mo | $171/mo |
| Dining out | $38.00/mo | $56.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $46.00/mo | $55.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $160/mo | $110/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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