Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

VC
51.3
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VC
4.8
ST
11.7

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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

VC
$908
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VC
9.4
ST
4.6

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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

VC
25.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VC
1.3t
ST
0.6t

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VC
29.5
ST
3.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VC
7.9%
ST
1.9%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

VC
18.0%
ST
9.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

VC
$12,562
ST
$4,084

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

VC
71.4 yrs
ST
69.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VC
10.2
ST
9.2

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in infant mortality.

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines passport

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can enter Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 3.0 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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 51.3 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 9.4 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 69).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

VC ST
Population 99,924 240,254
Currency East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1784 +239
Time zones 1 1