Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Saudi Arabia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Saudi Arabia to Sao Tome and Principe? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Saudi Arabia generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Saudi Arabia performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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.
Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa RequiredData: 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?
Saudi Arabia generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Saudi Arabia.
How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Saudi Arabia?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 30.8 in Saudi Arabia. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saudi Arabia: 74).
What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?
The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Saudi Arabia, the official language is Arabic.
