Cost of Living Comparison Between Samoa and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Samoa and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,000 per month in Samoa vs $2,180 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,533 per month in Samoa vs $3,221 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,066 per month in Samoa vs $4,261 in Australia, rent included.

Samoa is roughly 54% cheaper than Australia on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Samoa sits 25% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Samoa has a wider regional cost range ($1,000$1,000) than Australia ($1,570$2,819), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Samoa.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$53.8 WST 145
$16.16 A$22.63
232.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26 WST 95.2
$79.0 A$111
-55.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.62 WST 36.78
$9.63 A$13.48
41.43%
Cappuccino
$2.43 WST 6.57
$3.54 A$4.96
-31.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 WST 5.59
$2.70 A$3.78
-23.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 WST 3.54
$2.19 A$3.07
-40.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.18 WST 11.30
$6.37 A$8.92
-34.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 WST 9.62
$7.00 A$9.81
-49.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 WST 4.76
$1.50 A$2.10
17.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 WST 2.20
$2.51 A$3.51
-67.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 WST 4.92
$2.09 A$2.92
-12.92%
Eggs
$4.31 WST 11.64
$4.25 A$5.96
1.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.86 WST 2.32
$8.86 A$12.40
-90.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.53 WST 9.52
$8.19 A$11.47
-56.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.99 WST 21.58
$14.02 A$19.63
-43.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 WST 13.15
$3.11 A$4.36
56.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 WST 4.77
$2.72 A$3.81
-34.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 WST 4.74
$2.90 A$4.06
-39.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 WST 11.45
$4.34 A$6.08
-2.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.50 WST 9.46
$2.56 A$3.58
36.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 WST 2.82
$2.20 A$3.08
-52.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.21 A$3.09
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 WST 3.10
$1.52 A$2.12
-24.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98 WST 16.15
$31.34 A$43.87
-80.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.22 WST 43.78
$14.16 A$19.82
14.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 WST 4.92
$4.53 A$6.34
-59.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 WST 9.54
$4.92 A$6.88
-28.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Samoa
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.49 WST 9.42
$2.86 A$4.01
22.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$96.9 A$136
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 WST 14.15
$3.50 A$4.90
49.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.77 A$2.47
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.25 WST 57.4
$38.10 A$53.3
-44.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 WST 2.83
$1.16 A$1.63
-9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.5K A$41.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.9K A$32.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$18.17 WST 49.07
$176 A$247
-89.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.10 WST 48.87
$26.54 A$37.15
-31.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.32 WST 95.4
$53.5 A$74.9
-33.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$47.58 A$66.6
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.94 A$23.71
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.45 A$18.83
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,605 A$2,247
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.5K A$17.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.88 WST 135
$71.8 A$101
-30.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32 WST 109
$50.9 A$71.3
-20.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 WST 199
$100 A$140
-26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 WST 273
$108 A$151
-6.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samoa
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 WST 933
$1,395 A$1,953
-75.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 WST 398
$1,096 A$1,534
-86.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 WST 1,907
$2,320 A$3,248
-69.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 WST 3,120
$1,746 A$2,445
-33.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,516 A$10.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,564 A$7,790
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samoa
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,033 A$5,646
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.35
-

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

Last update for Samoa: April 20, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $0 in Samoa vs $1,234 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $0 in Apia and $1,569 in Canberra.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 114% more in Australia.

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
Samoa vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Samoa?
Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 119% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Samoa, contributing to the overall 119% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or Samoa?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Samoa, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Samoa?
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.

Samoa vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries