Praia - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is affordable and easy to find. We pay our housekeeper $160 USD per month for three days a week. Some people employ pool cleaners, gardeners, and drivers. Most people do not speak English, so having at least survival Portuguese or Kriolu is essential. - Feb 2024
Household staff are available for most tasks; salary for housekeeper/nannies typically about $250-$400/month depending on skill set and hours. Weekly gardening or pool cleaning about $40/month. Standard rate to wash a car is $3. - Aug 2023
Household help is available and affordable. It's as affordable as anywhere I would guess. Many families hire a housecleaner and/or nanny for kids. Some people hire a part-time gardener. It is difficult to find people who speak English. - Jan 2023
Availability of house help is good, but I can't give a cost. We only employ someone to take care of the outside of our home on a part-time basis. We pay him 10,000 Escudos, which is about US$100 per month. This is slightly higher than a typical salary for the country. Others within the community have housekeepers (part-time and full-time) and nannies. - Sep 2018
Most people employ at least a part-time maid. Unemployment is high and local salaries low. We pay our maid about $350/month and she's amazing and reliable (this is a higher salary than most professionals on the local economy). Being able to speak a bit of creole is really helpful. - Dec 2017
The cost of household help is embarrassingly affordable. An "empregada" who comes three times a week for 4-6 hours/day is paid around US$160 a month + social security benefits. Many empregadas are great cooks; ours cooks a couple lunches each week. Household help is easy to find due to high unemployment rates. The Embassy keeps a list of vetted household help. People typically employ help to upkeep pools, gardens, homes, and care for small children. - Oct 2016
Our nanny costs US$88 per week plus 20% Social Security. She also cooks lunch for us everyday. We hired a cleaning lady two times per week for US$40. Good help is widely available and there is a good pool of maids in the embassy community. We don't have green space but a couple of houses hire a gardner/pool man. A couple of families have hired security guards. - May 2014
Almost all expats have an "empregada" who cleans and/or cooks for them. We have a wonderful empregada who works 8-3 on Monday through Friday for about $250-$275 per month, including insurance and social security. She will stay longer for parties and helps with shopping, which is immensely important in the beginning if you do not feel comfortable with the local language. - Feb 2011
Cheap and widely available. - Sep 2012
Very inexpensive, $300 per month. We love ours. - May 2012
Readily available and reasonably priced. The quality of work varies but those who work with USG families are outstanding. - Feb 2008
