Cost of Living Comparison Between American Samoa and China Cost of Living Comparison Between American Samoa and China

Name: China
Address: CN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,465 per month in American Samoa vs $720 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,287 per month in American Samoa vs $1,148 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,109 per month in American Samoa vs $1,576 in China, rent included.

The cost of living in American Samoa is about 103% higher than in China on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

American Samoa sits 6% above the global median, while China is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in American Samoa ($1,465–$1,465) than in China ($468–$1,236), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 ¥19.60

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.55 $36.55

$22.72 ¥152

60.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$5.07 ¥33.95

95.27%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ¥19.70

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ¥3.21

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.30 ¥2.02

236.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ¥7.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.25 ¥15.07

82.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.79 ¥11.99

45.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.70 ¥11.35

69.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$0.96 ¥6.45

336.46%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$1.61 ¥10.79

180.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 $10.11

$13.60 ¥91.1

-25.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$3.41 ¥22.84

194.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.48 $11.48

$11.07 ¥74.2

3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$1.81 ¥12.09

238.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.30 ¥8.74

-25.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.48 ¥9.91

106.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.30 ¥8.72

216.15%

Potato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$0.72 ¥4.82

462.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$0.94 ¥6.31

317.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.61 ¥4.08

229.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.56 ¥3.73

253.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.30 $11.30

$3.67 ¥24.58

207.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$11.90 ¥79.7

28.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.83 ¥5.56

18.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.65 ¥11.08

77.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.29 ¥1.92

579.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 $123

$22.61 ¥151

446.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$1.45 ¥9.72

241.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.34 ¥2.31

502.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.91 $29.91

$7.27 ¥48.72

311.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.23 ¥8.26

6.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K $30.3K

$19.5K ¥130.9K

55.27%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K $20.4K

$17.2K ¥115.5K

18.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$405 $405

$55.5 ¥371

630.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.78 $29.78

$8.51 ¥57.0

249.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$10.81 ¥72.4

587.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 $50.5

$40.02 ¥268

26.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.98 $9.98

$14.80 ¥99.1

-32.57%

Cinema Ticket

$8.92 $8.92

$6.73 ¥45.09

32.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$984 $984

$454 ¥3,042

116.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,989 $9,989

$19.5K ¥130.8K

-48.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 $70.6

$44.95 ¥301

57.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$35.81 ¥240

41.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 $81.3

$76.8 ¥514

5.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 $99.9

$77.3 ¥518

29.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$385 ¥2,581

-17.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 $199

$242 ¥1,623

-18.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 $915

$837 ¥5,603

9.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$691 $691

$474 ¥3,177

45.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.8K $17.8K

$4,619 ¥30.9K

284.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$2,316 ¥15.5K

364.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,188 $1,188

$1,062 ¥7,110

11.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.47

-13.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for American Samoa: September 7, 2026

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $319 in American Samoa vs $295 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $319 in Pago Pago and $957 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $1,214 in American Samoa vs $865 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 8% higher in American Samoa.

Dining out costs 71% more in American Samoa.

Public transport is 629% more expensive in American Samoa.

Salaries are 40% higher in American Samoa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

American Samoa vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

China is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 72% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in American Samoa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but American Samoa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in China, contributing to the overall 72% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in China, but in American Samoa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

China is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.