Cost of Living Comparison Between Samoa and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Samoa and United States

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Samoa versus $2,645 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,533 in Samoa versus $3,858 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,066 in Samoa versus $5,071 in United States.

Living in Samoa costs about 62% less than in United States on average.

Samoa (25% below) and United States (97% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Samoa: monthly costs span $1,000 to $1,000, compared to $1,335$5,185 in United States. City choice carries more weight in Samoa.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samoa
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$53.8 WST 145
$20.28 $20.28
165.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26 WST 95.2
$73.7 $73.7
-52.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.62 WST 36.78
$11.57 $11.57
17.72%
Cappuccino
$2.43 WST 6.57
$5.34 $5.34
-54.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 WST 5.59
$2.50 $2.50
-17.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 WST 3.54
$2.10 $2.10
-37.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.18 WST 11.30
$5.96 $5.96
-29.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 WST 9.62
$7.03 $7.03
-49.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samoa
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 WST 4.76
$1.09 $1.09
61.47%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 WST 2.20
$3.56 $3.56
-76.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 WST 4.92
$4.75 $4.75
-61.68%
Eggs
$4.31 WST 11.64
$4.26 $4.26
1.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.86 WST 2.32
$13.05 $13.05
-93.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.53 WST 9.52
$12.32 $12.32
-71.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.99 WST 21.58
$16.03 $16.03
-50.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 WST 13.15
$5.34 $5.34
-8.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 WST 4.77
$1.72 $1.72
2.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 WST 4.74
$4.55 $4.55
-61.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 WST 11.45
$4.96 $4.96
-14.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.50 WST 9.46
$2.92 $2.92
19.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 WST 2.82
$3.03 $3.03
-65.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.23 $2.23
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 WST 3.10
$2.26 $2.26
-49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98 WST 16.15
$10.13 $10.13
-40.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.22 WST 43.78
$14.93 $14.93
8.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 WST 4.92
$1.94 $1.94
-6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 WST 9.54
$3.51 $3.51
0.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Samoa
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.49 WST 9.42
$2.55 $2.55
36.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.8 $65.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 WST 14.15
$3.82 $3.82
37.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.69 $1.69
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.25 WST 57.4
$29.65 $29.65
-28.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 WST 2.83
$0.90 $0.90
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.5K $30.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4K $26.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samoa
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$18.17 WST 49.07
$205 $205
-91.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.10 WST 48.87
$57.2 $57.2
-68.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.32 WST 95.4
$71.5 $71.5
-50.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samoa
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.76 $45.76
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.31 $22.31
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.89 $13.89
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samoa
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,380 $1,380
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$22.5K $22.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samoa
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.88 WST 135
$52.9 $52.9
-5.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32 WST 109
$42.81 $42.81
-5.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 WST 199
$88.8 $88.8
-16.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 WST 273
$113 $113
-10.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samoa
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 WST 933
$1,742 $1,742
-80.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 WST 398
$1,431 $1,431
-89.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 WST 1,907
$2,864 $2,864
-75.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 WST 3,120
$2,422 $2,422
-52.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,466 $3,466
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,650 $2,650
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samoa
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,320 $4,320
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.51
-

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

Last update for Samoa: April 20, 2026

Last update for United States: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $0 in Samoa, $1,634 in United States. Capital cities: $0 in Apia vs $2,570 in Washington, DC.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 103% more in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Samoa and United States?
At $1,000 per month in Samoa and $3,260 in United States, there's a 226% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Samoa is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United States beats Samoa across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Samoa or United States?
In Samoa, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United States, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Samoa or United States?
It depends on what you're after. Samoa wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Samoa vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries