Dependence on the ferry and Preguiça's small airport is driving up the cost of every housing project in São Nicolau

An island dependent on the sea and a small airstrip

Almost all building materials arrive by ferry, supplemented by the Preguiça airstrip.

Extra costs of up to 30% compared with other islands

Materials can cost up to 30% more than on islands with higher-capacity ports.

Container shipping: a fixed cost that weighs on every project

Freight for a single container adds around 250,000 CVE to the cost.

A structural factor shaping the entire property market

This dependence explains why building on the island costs more.

Preguiça, the island's narrow gateway

The Preguiça airstrip, with its limited capacity, works alongside the ferry as the only way to bring goods into São Nicolau. Developers must plan weeks in advance for the arrival of materials that reach other islands within days. This particularly affects bulky materials such as blocks, steel rebar and carpentry fittings.

Comparison with islands that have higher-capacity ports

Builders who also work in Santiago or São Vicente agree that the extra cost can reach up to 30% compared with islands that have deeper-draught ports. This difference feeds through into the final price of new housing and puts São Nicolau at a disadvantage. Some developers are cutting back on imported materials, although this limits the type of housing on offer.

The container: a fixed line item in every budget

Freight for a container adds a fixed cost of around 250,000 CVE, regardless of the final volume transported. This forces small developers to pool orders and plan several projects at once to spread out the extra expense. Some families share a container with neighbours building at the same time.

A factor that is also holding back investment

Developers from outside the island admit that logistics costs are the main obstacle to investing in São Nicolau. Any savings on land quickly evaporate once the final cost of construction is worked out. Local authorities have for years been calling for port improvements to reduce this structural dependence.