Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Caboverde

Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport

Daily Budget: $31-92 per day

Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Caboverde

$15-35 per night

Shared dorms in hostels, basic guesthouses, or budget pensions with shared bathrooms

$8-20 per day

Local markets, street food stalls, cachupa from local vendors, self-catering with market ingredients

$3-12 per day

Public minibuses (aluguers), walking, occasional shared taxis between towns

$5-25 per day

Beach time, hiking trails, local festivals, occasional museum entry, self-guided exploration

Currency: CVE Cape Verdean Escudo (though USD and EUR widely accepted in tourist areas)

Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style

Eat at local markets and neighborhood restaurants instead of tourist areas for typically 40-60% savings on meals

Use public aluguers (minibuses) instead of private taxis for 70-80% savings on transportation costs

Book accommodation directly with guesthouses rather than through international platforms to save 15-25% on lodging

Travel during shoulder season (April-June, September-October) for 20-35% lower accommodation rates

Buy groceries at local markets and prepare some meals yourself to reduce food costs by 50-70%

Join group tours instead of private excursions to save 40-60% on activity costs

Use inter-island ferries instead of flights when time permits for 60-75% savings on transport between islands

Staying only in resort areas and tourist zones where prices are typically 100-200% higher than local neighborhoods

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the public transport system, which costs 3-5 times more

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak season when rates can be 50-80% higher than advance bookings

Eating exclusively at hotel restaurants and tourist cafes instead of exploring local dining options that cost 60-70% less