Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and Pago Pago

For one person, living is cheaper in Pago Pago: $1,456 a month against $3,142 in Lihue, HI, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

156

Cost of Living Index in Lihue, HI
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Lihue, HI Living Index
71

Cost of Living Index in Pago Pago
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Pago Pago Living Index

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Lihue, HI

🇺🇸 United States

$3,142

/mo nomad

Pago Pago

🇦🇸 American Samoa

$1,456

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lihue, HI and in Pago Pago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lihue, HI and in Pago Pago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,142 in Lihue, HI versus $1,456 in Pago Pago.

Lihue, HI $3,142
Pago Pago $1,456

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,482 in Lihue, HI versus $2,262 in Pago Pago.

Lihue, HI $5,482
Pago Pago $2,262

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,823 in Lihue, HI versus $3,068 in Pago Pago.

Lihue, HI $7,823
Pago Pago $3,068

Living in Lihue, HI is roughly 116% more expensive than in Pago Pago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lihue, HI 134% above, Pago Pago 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.05 $25.05

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 $110

$36.18 $36.18

203.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.46 $13.46

$10.07 $10.07

33.66%

Cappuccino

$6.45 $6.45

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

$3.69 $3.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.01 $1.01

142.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.17 $8.17

$3.89 $3.89

110.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.59 $2.59

-29.34%

White Bread (500g)

$6.70 $6.70

$2.82 $2.82

137.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.20 $4.20

-33.33%

Eggs

$10.28 $10.28

$4.63 $4.63

122.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.43 $15.43

$10.03 $10.03

53.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$9.83 $9.83

53.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.57 $19.57

$11.47 $11.47

70.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.15 $6.15

-21.30%

Banana (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.02 $1.02

220.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.89 $8.89

$2.93 $2.93

203.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.83 $9.83

$4.02 $4.02

144.53%

Potato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$3.92 $3.92

22.70%

Onion (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.06 $4.06

47.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.49 $11.49

3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.00 $16.00

$14.79 $14.79

8.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.99 $0.99

65.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.88 $2.88

-42.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.03 $2.03

-0.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.5 $52.5

$124 $124

-57.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 $7.79

$5.07 $5.07

53.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.05 $2.05

-10.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.96 $14.96

$29.49 $29.49

-49.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.36 $1.36

-6.62%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

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

$20.2K $20.2K

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

$404 $404

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

$29.64 $29.64

$30.11 $30.11

-1.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.1 $60.1

$76.3 $76.3

-21.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.5 $91.5

$49.35 $49.35

85.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.06 $10.06

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 $8.86

$9.22 $9.22

-3.90%

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

$1,193 $1,193

$989 $989

20.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$9,838 $9,838

64.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.4 $69.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 $81.3

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,435 $2,435

$327 $327

645.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 $2,018

$201 $201

902.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,150 $5,150

$884 $884

482.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$707 $707

569.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.1K $18.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,019 $2,019

$1,217 $1,217

65.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

123.00%

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

Last update for Lihue, HI: October 5, 2026

Last update for Pago Pago: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lihue, HI

$2K 63%

Pago Pago

$201 13.7% 90% $1.8K

Groceries & Markets

Lihue, HI

$517 * 16.1%

Pago Pago

$364 24.8% 29.5% $153

Eating Out

Lihue, HI

$393 12.3%

Pago Pago

$42 * 2.9% 89.3% $351

Sport & Entertainment

Lihue, HI

$109 3.4%

Pago Pago

$68 4.6% 37.9% $41

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lihue, HI

$90 * 2.8%

Pago Pago

$510 34.7% 468% $420

Getting Around

Lihue, HI

$78 2.4%

Pago Pago

$147 10% 89.8% $70

Clothing & Footwear

Lihue, HI

- * 0%

Pago Pago

$136 9.3%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,435 in Lihue, HI and $327 in Pago Pago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lihue, HI pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $110 in Lihue, HI vs $36.00 in Pago Pago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $517 vs $364 per month, with Pago Pago cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Lihue, HI

🇦🇸 Pago Pago

🕒 Local time

17:55 5:55 PM

16:55 4:55 PM

1 h behind Lihue, HI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,000

11,500 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Lihue, HI Pago Pago 4,220 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Lihue, HI
Pago Pago

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

Lihue, HI vs Pago Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pago Pago wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Lihue, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pago Pago the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 66% higher in Lihue, HI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,435 in Lihue, HI versus $327 in Pago Pago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,142 per month in Lihue, HI versus $1,456 in Pago Pago – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pago Pago runs roughly 136% less than in Lihue, HI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,456 in Pago Pago versus $3,142 in Lihue, HI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pago Pago but tight or insufficient in Lihue, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Pago Pago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Lihue, HI and Pago Pago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pago Pago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Lihue, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.