Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Philippines

moving to

What to Expect

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

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

Get free moving quotes to Sao Tome and Principe

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

PH
4.3
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PH
9.7
ST
11.7

Philippines generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PH
$560
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PH
7.9
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Philippines leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PH
92.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PH
1.5t
ST
0.6t

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Philippines 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

PH
7.6
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PH
27.2%
ST
1.9%

Philippines 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

PH
2.2%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PH
$9,700
ST
$5,500

Philippines 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

PH
70.1 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PH
22.2
ST
44.4

Philippines 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 Philippines 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.

Philippines passport

Philippines passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Philippines 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 Philippines

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can enter Philippines without a visa.

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 Philippines and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Philippines generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Philippines?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Philippines leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 7.9 in Philippines. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.

Share this

At a Glance

PH ST
Population 114,597,229 217,164
Currency Philippine Peso (₱) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English, Filipino Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +63 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911