For one person, living is cheaper in American Samoa: $1,470 a month against $2,315 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in American Samoa and in French Polynesia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in American Samoa and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,470 per month in American Samoa vs $2,315 in French Polynesia, rent included.
American Samoa $1,470
French Polynesia $2,315
A couple spends around $2,274 per month in American Samoa vs $3,464 in French Polynesia, rent included.
American Samoa $2,274
French Polynesia $3,464
A family of three spends $3,079 per month in American Samoa vs $4,613 in French Polynesia, rent included.
American Samoa $3,079
French Polynesia $4,613
📏
The regional cost range is wider in French Polynesia ($14–$2,283) than in American Samoa ($1,477–$1,477), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in American Samoa is roughly 37% lower than in French Polynesia on average.
📊
Both American Samoa and French Polynesia are pricier than the global median – American Samoa by 8%, French Polynesia by 70%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$16.95CFPF 1,809
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.28$35.28
$76.4CFPF 8,146
-53.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03$10.03
$14.24CFPF 1,520
-29.56%
Cappuccino
-
$4.14CFPF 441
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.64CFPF 281
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$2.49CFPF 266
-60.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.75CFPF 507
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92$3.92
$5.58CFPF 595
-29.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.62$2.62
$1.43CFPF 153
83.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83$2.83
$4.40CFPF 470
-35.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.25$4.25
$1.73CFPF 185
145.66%
Eggs
$4.51$4.51
$6.74CFPF 719
-33.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.30$10.30
$35.28CFPF 3,764
-70.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.95$9.95
$15.39CFPF 1,643
-35.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47$11.47
$24.37CFPF 2,600
-52.93%
Apples(1kg)
$5.93$5.93
$4.93CFPF 526
20.28%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97$0.97
$2.88CFPF 308
-66.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07$3.07
$6.35CFPF 678
-51.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$7.63CFPF 814
-47.31%
Potato(1kg)
$4.04$4.04
$2.92CFPF 312
38.36%
Onion(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$2.42CFPF 259
67.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.05$2.05
$3.65CFPF 390
-43.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$1.16CFPF 123
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31$11.31
$13.06CFPF 1,393
-13.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.27$15.27
$23.36CFPF 2,493
-34.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$2.92CFPF 312
-65.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00$3.00
$3.76CFPF 401
-20.21%
🚌 Getting Around
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$1.82CFPF 194
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$122$122
$14.33CFPF 1,529
752.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.99$4.99
$9.51CFPF 1,014
-47.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03$2.03
$2.39CFPF 255
-15.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.26$30.26
$22.96CFPF 2,450
31.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30$1.30
$1.44CFPF 153
-9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$18.6KCFPF 2.0M
59.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K$19.7K
$30.4KCFPF 3.2M
-35.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$410$410
$174CFPF 18.5K
136.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.48$29.48
$18.73CFPF 1,998
57.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8$75.8
$69.8CFPF 7,445
8.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.3$50.3
$73.0CFPF 7,793
-31.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.92$9.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.79$8.79
$14.25CFPF 1,521
-38.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,002$1,002
$468CFPF 49.9K
114.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,850$9,850
$9,405CFPF 1.0M
4.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6$69.6
$69.1CFPF 7,376
0.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.84$49.84
$72.3CFPF 7,716
-31.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1$80.1
$78.0CFPF 8,319
2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100$100
$89.4CFPF 9,542
11.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324$324
$1,233CFPF 131.5K
-73.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198$198
$922CFPF 98.4K
-78.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$906$906
$1,868CFPF 199.3K
-51.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$700$700
$1,473CFPF 157.2K
-52.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.1K$18.1K
$7,062CFPF 753.5K
156.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.6K$10.6K
$9,027CFPF 963.2K
17.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,199$1,199
$1,876CFPF 200.2K
-36.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
4.6
-34.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for American Samoa: October 24, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
American Samoa
$515 35.1%
French Polynesia
$262 11.3% ↓ 49.1%$253
🛒Groceries & Markets
American Samoa
$367 25%
French Polynesia
$565 24.4% ↑ 53.9%$198
🏠Accommodation & Living
American Samoa
$198 13.5%
French Polynesia
$922 39.8% ↑ 366%$724
🚌Getting Around
American Samoa
$145 9.9%
French Polynesia
$43 1.9% ↓ 70.4%$102
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
American Samoa
$135 9.2%
French Polynesia
$139 6% ↑ 3.1%$4.1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
American Samoa
$68 4.6%
French Polynesia
$102 4.4% ↑ 49.5%$34
🍽Eating Out
American Samoa
$42 * 2.9%
French Polynesia
$283 12.2% ↑ 577%$242
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
American Samoa
$545 17.7%
French Polynesia
$281 6.1% ↓ 48.5%$264
🛒Groceries & Markets
American Samoa
$846 27.5%
French Polynesia
$1.3K 28.4% ↑ 54.7%$462
🏠Accommodation & Living
American Samoa
$700 22.8%
French Polynesia
$1.5K 31.9% ↑ 110%$773
🚌Getting Around
American Samoa
$294 9.6%
French Polynesia
$90 1.9% ↓ 69.5%$204
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
American Samoa
$300 9.7%
French Polynesia
$309 6.7% ↑ 3.1%$9.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
American Samoa
$146 4.7%
French Polynesia
$203 * 4.4% ↑ 39.3%$57
🍽Eating Out
American Samoa
$248 * 8.1%
French Polynesia
$948 20.6% ↑ 282%$700
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $327 in American Samoa vs $1,170 in French Polynesia. For reference, capital cities sit at $327 in Pago Pago and $1,328 in Papeete.
💰Average salary: $1,183 in American Samoa vs $1,977 in French Polynesia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 258% higher in French Polynesia.
⭐Dining out costs 111% more in French Polynesia.
⭐Public transport is 793% more expensive in American Samoa.
American Samoa→French Polynesia2,290 km≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Samoa more expensive than French Polynesia?
American Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 37% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in French Polynesia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,170 versus $327 in American Samoa.
Should I move to American Samoa or to French Polynesia?
American Samoa is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
American Samoa vs other spots: cost of living compared