Moving to Palau from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Palau, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Palauan.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
PW
22.2

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
PW
$1,857
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
PW
17.8

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
PW
82.8t

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Palau 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

ST
2.0
PW
6.9
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

ST
51.0%
PW
37.2%

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though Palau leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
PW
$15,800

Palau performs significantly 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

ST
67.1 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
PW
11.3

Palau performs significantly 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 Sao Tome and Principe and Palau. To live, work, or study long-term in Palau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Palau's immigration authority.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.
Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

Connectivity is usually fine (Palau: 6.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Palau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Palau safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Palau?

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

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At a Glance

ST PW
Population 217,164 21,695
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Portuguese English, Palauan
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +680
Time zones 1 1