Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Samoa and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in Samoa: $847 a month against $2,727 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $22,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇼🇸 Samoa
$847
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Samoa and in the United States

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Samoa versus $2,727 in the United States.

  • Samoa $847
  • United States $2,727

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Samoa versus $4,009 in the United States.

  • Samoa $2,303
  • United States $4,009

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,758 in Samoa versus $5,291 in the United States.

  • Samoa $3,758
  • United States $5,291

Internal cost variation is higher in Samoa: monthly costs span $835 to $835, compared to $977–$5,215 in the United States. City choice carries more weight in Samoa.

Living in Samoa costs about 69% less than in the United States on average.

Samoa (37% below) and the United States (101% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samoa
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$46.41 WST 129
$19.73 $19.73
135.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.03 WST 103
$81.0 $81.0
-54.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.81 WST 41.26
$11.98 $11.98
23.62%
Cappuccino
$2.83 WST 7.89
$5.59 $5.59
-49.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 WST 5.11
$2.78 $2.78
-33.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 WST 3.89
$2.10 $2.10
-33.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 WST 9.85
$5.98 $5.98
-40.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 WST 10.08
$7.92 $7.92
-54.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samoa
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 WST 4.92
$1.03 $1.03
71.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 WST 2.33
$3.75 $3.75
-77.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 WST 4.99
$4.46 $4.46
-59.87%
Eggs
$4.35 WST 12.10
$4.34 $4.34
0.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.87 WST 2.43
$12.75 $12.75
-93.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 WST 10.26
$12.27 $12.27
-69.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.54 WST 23.79
$17.29 $17.29
-50.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.18 WST 14.42
$5.31 $5.31
-2.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 WST 5.01
$1.67 $1.67
7.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 WST 5.14
$4.32 $4.32
-57.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 WST 12.24
$5.03 $5.03
-12.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 WST 10.06
$2.81 $2.81
28.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 WST 3.08
$3.05 $3.05
-63.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.22 $2.22
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 WST 3.30
$2.35 $2.35
-49.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21 WST 17.28
$10.92 $10.92
-43.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.43 WST 45.77
$14.87 $14.87
10.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 WST 5.15
$2.10 $2.10
-11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 WST 10.22
$3.62 $3.62
1.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Samoa
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.58 WST 9.96
$2.46 $2.46
45.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.7 $65.7
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.53 WST 15.40
$3.58 $3.58
54.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.44 WST 15.14
$1.90 $1.90
186.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.96 WST 61.2
$29.51 $29.51
-25.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 WST 3.11
$1.02 $1.02
9.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.3K $28.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.0K $26.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samoa
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$17.83 WST 49.65
$221 $221
-91.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.05 WST 50.3
$61.3 $61.3
-70.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.72 WST 102
$73.3 $73.3
-49.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samoa
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$44.89 $44.89
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.65 $22.65
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$15.16 $15.16
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samoa
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,471 $1,471
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.0K $25.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samoa
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.5 $53.5
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.76 $43.76
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$92.0 $92.0
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$114 $114
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samoa
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,654 $1,654
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,332 $1,332
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,669 $2,669
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,794 WST 4,997
$2,207 $2,207
-18.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,054 $3,054
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,522 $2,522
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samoa
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,391 $4,391
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.55
-

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

Last update for Samoa: October 19, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Eating Out
Samoa
$488
United States
$326 33.1% $161
Groceries & Markets
Samoa
$240 *
United States
$413 71.9% $173
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samoa
$73
United States
$355 390% $283
Getting Around
Samoa
$47 *
United States
$89 88.5% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Samoa
- *
United States
$75
Clothing & Footwear
Samoa
- *
United States
$137
Accommodation & Living
Samoa
- *
United States
$1.3K

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

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 108% more in the United States.

Good to know
🇼🇸 Samoa
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
06:49 6:49 AM
13:49 1:49 PM
17 h behind Samoa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
200,010
340,110,988
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to WST – Samoan Tala Converter

Samoan Tala exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 2.79 WST (1 WST = 0.359 USD). 1 EUR = 3.13 WST (1 WST = 0.319 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Samoa United States 10,430 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Samoa
  • United States

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
Samoa vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Samoa and the United States?
At $847 per month in Samoa and $2,727 in the United States, there's a 222% 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Samoa: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Samoa or in the United States?
In Samoa, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Samoa or to the United States?
It depends on what you're after: Samoa wins on affordability; the 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

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