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Cape Verde · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Cape Verde

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Cape Verde's rental market is small, island-based and dominated by private, word-of-mouth transactions rather than structured agencies. Long-term unfurnished leases are the norm in the residential markets of Praia (Santiago) and Mindelo (Sao Vicente), while the tourist islands of Sal (Santa Maria) and Boa Vista lean heavily toward furnished, short- and mid-term holiday-style lets at higher prices. Residential leasing is governed by the General Regime for Urban Leasing (Regime Geral do Arrendamento Urbano, RGAU; Law no. 101/VIII/2016), which is broadly pro-tenant: contracts must be in writing, rent must be set in Cape Verdean escudos, eviction of a defending tenant is slow, and a landlord may not demand more than one month's rent in advance. For an incoming nomad, the practical reality is a thin, opaque formal market, so a viable approach is to arrive on a furnished short-term let (Airbnb/Flatio), prospect neighbourhoods in person, and negotiate a longer lease directly with an owner.

The rental basics

Typical lease
1 year
Deposit
—
Furnished
Furnished + unfurnished
Mid-term market
Moderate mid-term market
Address registration
Not required

Agency fee: Cape Verde's rental market runs mostly on private, owner-to-tenant deals and word of mouth, with relatively few structured letting agencies; agencies focus more on sales than on long-term residential lets. A standard, published tenant-side letting commission could not be confirmed from the sources read. Treat any agency letting fee as negotiable and confirm in writing who pays it.

Your rights as a tenant

Residential tenancy is governed by the RGAU (Regime Geral do Arrendamento Urbano, Law no. 101/VIII/2016) plus the Civil Code, and the regime is generally pro-tenant, with landlord rights described as exceptionally weak. Reported protections include a slow eviction process (around six months, or longer if contested or appealed), a requirement that the landlord may only terminate by filing an eviction request with the court, landlord obligations to keep the property safe and well maintained including essential services (water, electricity), a default contract term of six months where none is agreed (renewing for equal periods), limited-duration residential contracts of no less than three years, and constraints on rent increases (where the contract is silent, no increase before five years). A landlord may not demand more than one month's rent in advance. A specific statutory cap on the security deposit (caucao) could not be confirmed from the sources read for Cape Verde; the often-cited two-months / one-month formula appears to derive from Portuguese law rather than the Cape Verdean RGAU, so deposit terms should be agreed and spelled out in the written contract.

Good to know

  • Strong, written legal framework (RGAU / Law 101/VIII/2016) that is broadly pro-tenant, with slow eviction of defending tenants and a cap of one month's rent demandable in advance
  • Plenty of furnished short- and mid-term options on the tourist islands (Airbnb, Flatio), making it easy to land softly and prospect before committing
  • Rents are modest by European standards, especially in the residential markets of Praia and Mindelo
  • Rent legally fixed in escudos and a default six-month term where none is agreed, giving incoming tenants a clear baseline

Watch out for

  • Thin, opaque formal market: long-term listings circulate mostly via word of mouth, local contacts and Facebook groups rather than polished portals, so finding a good long-term place remotely is hard
  • Furnished long-term stock is scarce in residential areas; bare/unfurnished is common for proper 12-month leases, while furnished mostly means higher-priced holiday lets
  • Big price and availability gap between islands - Sal and Boa Vista (tourist-driven) are pricier than Praia and Mindelo
  • No statutory deposit cap could be confirmed for Cape Verde, so always insist on a written contract in escudos with deposit amount, included utilities and deposit-return conditions spelled out; verbal/informal arrangements are common but offer weaker protection
  • Verify NIF, residence-permit and the contract-to-tax-authority step locally, as informal sub-letting may skip the required paperwork

Where to look

Airbnb (furnished monthly/extended stays, strongest on Sal/Santa Maria, Praia and Boa Vista)Flatio (furnished, deposit-free mid-term rentals aimed at expats and nomads)Facebook expat and housing groupsLocal real-estate agencies (more sales than long-term lets)Word of mouth and local contacts on the specific island

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Cape Verde: FAQ

Renting in Cape Verde: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Cape Verde?

There's no single published norm — deposits vary by landlord. Expect at least one month's rent held as security, plus the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (cape verde's rental market runs mostly on private, owner-to-tenant deals and word of mouth, with relatively few structured letting agencies; agencies focus more on sales than on long-term residential lets. a standard, published tenant-side letting commission could not be confirmed from the sources read. treat any agency letting fee as negotiable and confirm in writing who pays it.).

Do I have to register my address in Cape Verde?

Address registration isn't a general requirement for short-stay residents here, but check whether your specific visa or a bank needs proof of address.

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Cape Verde?

Furnished + unfurnished and the mid-term market nomads rely on is moderate mid-term market. Start your search on Airbnb (furnished monthly/extended stays, strongest on Sal/Santa Maria, Praia and Boa Vista), Flatio (furnished, deposit-free mid-term rentals aimed at expats and nomads), Facebook expat and housing groups.

Sources