Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Dominican Republic

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Dominican Republic to Sao Tome and Principe? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Dominican Republic.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DO
12.4
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DO
27.4
ST
11.7

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

DO
$1,169
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

DO
22.3
ST
4.9

Dominican Republic generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

DO
27.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DO
3.0t
ST
0.6t

Dominican Republic generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DO
10.7
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DO
39.5%
ST
1.9%

Dominican Republic generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DO
5.6%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DO
$23,100
ST
$5,500

Dominican Republic 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

DO
72.6 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DO
21.2
ST
44.4

Dominican Republic generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Dominican Republic 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.

Dominican Republic passport

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Dominican Republic passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Dominican Republic

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sao Tome and Principe: 2.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sao Tome and Principe offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Dominican Republic.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Dominican Republic?

Dominican Republic generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 22.3 in Dominican Republic. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Dominican Republic: 77).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Dominican Republic, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

DO ST
Population 10,694,700 217,164
Currency Dominican Peso (DOP) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Spanish Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911