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

Name: American Samoa
Address: AS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $336 per month in Tonga vs $821 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $623 per month in Tonga vs $1,411 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $909 per month in Tonga vs $2,001 in American Samoa, rent included.

Tonga is roughly 59% cheaper than American Samoa on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Tonga and American Samoa are more affordable than the global median – Tonga 75% lower, American Samoa 39% lower.

Tonga has a wider regional cost range ($0–$1,007) than American Samoa ($821–$821), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Tonga.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 TOP 19.32

$25.37 $25.37

-67.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 TOP 148

$6.95 $6.95

796.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.22 TOP 24.22

Cappuccino

$2.92 TOP 6.93

$1.01 $1.01

189.11%

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

$2.77 TOP 6.56

$1.23 $1.23

125.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 TOP 5.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 TOP 7.65

$2.05 $2.05

57.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 TOP 11.65

$1.99 $1.99

147.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 TOP 3.61

$2.63 $2.63

-42.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 TOP 2.43

$2.94 $2.94

-64.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 TOP 4.93

$4.39 $4.39

-52.62%

Eggs

$4.98 TOP 11.81

$4.45 $4.45

11.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 TOP 21.41

$10.33 $10.33

-12.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 TOP 13.64

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 TOP 18.35

$11.18 $11.18

-30.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 TOP 6.68

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 TOP 6.69

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 TOP 6.77

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 TOP 8.69

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 TOP 7.33

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 TOP 6.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 TOP 5.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 TOP 3.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 TOP 23.67

$11.44 $11.44

-12.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.18 TOP 40.72

$15.27 $15.27

12.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 TOP 7.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 TOP 7.90

$2.89 $2.89

15.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 TOP 4.84

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.20 TOP 97.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 TOP 4.99

$4.95 $4.95

-57.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.98 TOP 99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 TOP 3.54

$1.36 $1.36

9.56%

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

$5,702 TOP 13.5K

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

$8,225 TOP 19.5K

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

$184 TOP 437

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

$22.08 TOP 52.3

$29.74 $29.74

-25.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 TOP 296

$75.7 $75.7

64.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.36 TOP 74.3

$49.82 $49.82

-37.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.32 TOP 97.9

$10.19 $10.19

305.50%

Cinema Ticket

$41.41 TOP 98.1

$9.18 $9.18

351.09%

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

$157 TOP 372

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$250 TOP 594

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.32 TOP 33.94

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.51 TOP 41.50

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.86 TOP 49.45

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.53 TOP 70.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 TOP 1,456

$147 $147

316.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.8 TOP 121

$199 $199

-74.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 TOP 1,995

$913 $913

-7.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 TOP 1,357

$695 $695

-17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$411 TOP 974

$17.6K $17.6K

-97.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$249 TOP 591

$10.9K $10.9K

-97.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$680 TOP 1,612

$1,199 $1,199

-43.26%

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

Last update for Tonga: April 21, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $204 in Tonga vs $153 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $611 in Nuku'alofa and $153 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $674 in Tonga 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 33% higher in Tonga.

Dining out costs 200% more in Tonga.

Salaries are 78% higher in American Samoa, giving Tonga 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

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

Tonga is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 63% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Tonga, contributing to the overall 63% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

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

Tonga 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.