The dobra is the official currency, but in São Tomé the euro rules. We explain the fixed exchange rate, what €1 is worth, where to change money, whether cards work and what things cost day to day.
What is the currency of São Tomé and Príncipe?
The official currency of São Tomé and Príncipe is the dobra (code STN). Since 2018 the «new dobra» has been in circulation: the country knocked three zeros off the old currency, so 1 new dobra is worth 1,000 old dobras. If someone shows you notes with lots of zeros, they are from the old days and are no longer valid.
There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 dobras, and coins for change.
What is €1 worth in São Tomé?
The dobra is pegged to the euro under an agreement with Portugal: €1 = 24.5 dobras. The rate does not change from week to week, which makes the maths much easier.
In practice, on the street and with our guides, money is changed at €1 = 25 dobras, the round figure everyone uses:
| Euros | Dobras (approx.) | Kwanzas (at 1,025 Kz/€) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 € | 25 Db | 1,025 Kz |
| 10 € | 250 Db | 10,250 Kz |
| 50 € | 1,250 Db | 51,250 Kz |
| 100 € | 2,500 Db | 102,500 Kz |
| 300 € | 7,500 Db | 307,500 Kz |
To give you an idea: a beer at the hotel costs about 75 dobras (€3).
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Kwanza to dobra: can I change kwanzas in São Tomé?
Yes. Travellers from Angola can bring kwanzas and change them into dobras in São Tomé. The reference rate is about 21 dobras for every 1,000 kwanzas.
But do the maths: the kwanza changes worse than the euro. For the same amount you get fewer dobras than if you brought euro notes (24.5 dobras per euro). The table shows the difference, with the euro at 1,025 Kz (reference rate, November 2026):
| Euros | Kwanzas (AOA) | Dobras received (21 STN per 1,000 Kz) | Difference vs changing euros (24.5 STN/€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 € | 1,025 Kz | 21.53 Db | - 2.97 Db |
| 5 € | 5,125 Kz | 107.63 Db | - 14.87 Db |
| 10 € | 10,250 Kz | 215.25 Db | - 29.75 Db |
| 20 € | 20,500 Kz | 430.50 Db | - 59.50 Db |
| 50 € | 51,250 Kz | 1,076.25 Db | - 148.75 Db |
| 100 € | 102,500 Kz | 2,152.50 Db | - 297.50 Db |
| 500 € | 512,500 Kz | 10,762.50 Db | - 1,487.50 Db |
| 1,000 € | 1,025,000 Kz | 21,525.00 Db | - 2,975.00 Db |
For every €100 in kwanzas you get about 300 fewer dobras, roughly €12. If you can buy euros in Angola at a good rate, it pays to bring euros; if not, kwanzas will do. Rates change, so check on the day you travel.
How much money can I take out of Angola?
Under Notice No. 6/22 of the Banco Nacional de Angola, residents can leave the country with up to the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars, in kwanzas and/or foreign currency, without declaring it. Above that you must declare the source of the money, and minors travelling alone have a limit of 1,000 dollars. Rules can change: check with your bank or the BNA before you travel.
For a week in São Tomé with the trip already paid for, your spending money will be well below this limit.
Do you pay in dobras or euros in São Tomé?
Both. Hotels, agencies and many restaurants price in euros and accept euro notes. At the market, fruit stalls, taxis and small shops you pay in dobras.
Our advice: bring your travel money in euros and change some into dobras on arrival for small expenses. Euro notes in good condition are the easiest to change.
Do cards and ATMs work?
With caution. There are few ATMs, not all accept foreign cards, and many places only take cash. The larger hotels accept cards, but do not count on it elsewhere on the island. Bring euros in cash for the whole trip and use your card only as a backup.
How much does it cost to eat in São Tomé?
In a local restaurant, a meal costs on average €12 to €15 per person: 300 to 375 dobras, or about 14,300 to 17,900 Kz. These are real prices for dishes of the day:
| Dish | Euros | Dobras (at 25 Db/€) | Kwanzas (exchanged at 21 Db per 1,000 Kz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arroz à moda da terra | 6 € | 150 Db | ≈ 7,100 Kz |
| Massada de cherne | 8 € | 200 Db | ≈ 9,500 Kz |
| Peixe-azeite or tuna | 10 € | 250 Db | ≈ 11,900 Kz |
| Grilled octopus | 12 € | 300 Db | ≈ 14,300 Kz |
| Grouper or croaker | 20 € | 500 Db | ≈ 23,800 Kz |
Massada de cherne is our favourite: the most typical dish and one of the cheapest. A beer at the hotel costs about €3 (75 dobras).
Real example: dinner for two at Papa Figo
An October 2026 bill from Papa Figo restaurant, on Avenida das Nações Unidas in São Tomé city: dinner for 2 adults with a starter, a fish platter and dessert.
| Order | Dobras | Kwanzas |
|---|---|---|
| Sea-snail starter | 100 Db | ≈ 4,800 Kz |
| Papa Figo fish platter (2 people) | 1,150 Db | ≈ 54,800 Kz |
| Pudim | 80 Db | ≈ 3,800 Kz |
| Total | 1,330 Db (€53.73) | ≈ 63,300 Kz |
About €27 per person (≈ 31,700 Kz). Papa Figo is a very good restaurant popular with tourists, so this is the cost of a special dinner; at a simple local restaurant you eat for half. Note that the bill itself shows the total in dobras and in euros: you can pay in either.
What is the cost of living in São Tomé?
São Tomé is not a cheap destination for visitors, because a lot is imported. For the guide, we suggest a tip of €10 per person per week.
On our trips, accommodation, guide, transport and excursions are already paid for, so the money you bring is only for meals outside the programme, extras, drinks and souvenirs. See our São Tomé and Príncipe trips.
Where to change money?
You can change money at banks and bureaux de change in São Tomé city. On our trips, the guide helps you change money on the first day at a fair rate, so you lose neither time nor money.
Frequently asked questions
The dobra (STN). €1 is worth 24.5 dobras, a fixed rate.
24.5 dobras at the official rate; in practice it is changed at about 25 dobras.
Yes, at hotels, agencies and many restaurants. For small purchases it is best to have dobras.
In few places. Bring cash in euros.
Yes. The reference rate is about 21 dobras for every 1,000 kwanzas. Changing euros gets you more: 24.5 dobras per euro.
Changing kwanzas in São Tomé at about 21 dobras per 1,000 Kz, each dobra costs around 48 Kz. Rates change, so check on the day.
Under BNA Notice No. 6/22, residents can leave with up to the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars without declaring it. Check the current rules with your bank before you travel.
In a local restaurant, on average €12 to €15 per person (300 to 375 dobras). Arroz à moda da terra costs about €6; grilled octopus, €12.
