Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Aruba

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Aruba to Sao Tome and Principe — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Aruba to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Aruba and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2014

per 100,000 people per year

AW
1.9
ST
3.2

Aruba performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AW
5.1t
ST
0.6t

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Aruba across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AW
17.7
ST
2.0
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

AW
97.0%
ST
51.0%

Aruba performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AW
7.7%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AW
$41,300
ST
$5,500

Aruba performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AW
78.0 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AW
12.1
ST
44.4

Aruba performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Aruba and Sao Tome and Principe. To live, work, or study long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sao Tome and Principe's immigration authority.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Aruba

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Aruba.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

With 2.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sao Tome and Principe can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Aruba and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Aruba performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.9 in Aruba.

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Aruba, the official languages are Dutch and Papiamento.

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At a Glance

AW ST
Population 122,320 217,164
Currency Aruban Florin (AWG) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Dutch, Papiamento Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +297 +239
Time zones 1 1