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

Name: American Samoa
Address: AS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $712 per month in China vs $821 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,131 per month in China vs $1,411 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,550 per month in China vs $2,001 in American Samoa, rent included.

China is roughly 13% cheaper than American Samoa on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both China and American Samoa are more affordable than the global median – China 47% lower, American Samoa 39% lower.

China has a wider regional cost range ($532–$1,187) than American Samoa ($821–$821), so location matters more when choosing where to live in China.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 ¥18.80

$25.37 $25.37

-89.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.07 ¥165

$6.95 $6.95

246.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ¥33.11

Cappuccino

$2.97 ¥20.29

$1.01 $1.01

194.06%

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

$0.45 ¥3.05

$1.23 $1.23

-63.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥2.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ¥6.85

$2.05 $2.05

-51.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥14.11

$1.99 $1.99

3.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ¥12.46

$2.63 $2.63

-30.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ¥11.07

$2.94 $2.94

-44.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.20

$4.39 $4.39

-79.27%

Eggs

$1.54 ¥10.55

$4.45 $4.45

-65.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.32 ¥91.1

$10.33 $10.33

28.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ¥22.38

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 ¥72.2

$11.18 $11.18

-5.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 ¥12.01

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.91

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 ¥9.93

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ¥8.16

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.83

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ¥3.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.65

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 ¥23.97

$11.44 $11.44

-69.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 ¥81.1

$15.27 $15.27

-22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.49

$2.89 $2.89

-41.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥3.00

$2.02 $2.02

-78.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.76 ¥142

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.28

$4.95 $4.95

-72.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.65 ¥45.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$1.36 $1.36

-13.97%

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

$19.1K ¥130.8K

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

$17.1K ¥117.2K

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

$52.0 ¥355

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

$9.65 ¥66.0

$29.74 $29.74

-67.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.16 ¥76.3

$75.7 $75.7

-85.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.48 ¥277

$49.82 $49.82

-18.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 ¥101

$10.19 $10.19

44.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.35 ¥43.45

$9.18 $9.18

-30.83%

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

$410 ¥2,803

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ¥121.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.08 ¥315

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.86 ¥225

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 ¥487

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 ¥515

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ¥2,942

$147 $147

191.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ¥1,784

$199 $199

31.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$914 ¥6,254

$913 $913

0.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$542 ¥3,711

$695 $695

-21.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,177 ¥35.4K

$17.6K $17.6K

-70.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,630 ¥18.0K

$10.9K $10.9K

-75.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,060 ¥7,250

$1,199 $1,199

-11.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

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

Last update for China: April 21, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $287 in China vs $153 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $891 in Beijing (Pekin) and $153 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $833 in China vs $1,201 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 88% higher in China.

Dining out costs 200% more in China.

Salaries are 44% higher in American Samoa, giving American Samoa stronger purchasing power.

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

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

American Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 5% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in American Samoa, contributing to the overall 5% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in American Samoa, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

American Samoa 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.