For one person, living is cheaper in American Samoa: $1,470 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in American Samoa
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in American Samoa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $1,470 in American Samoa, rent included.
United States $2,734
American Samoa $1,470
A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $2,274 in American Samoa, rent included.
United States $3,985
American Samoa $2,274
A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $3,079 in American Samoa, rent included.
United States $5,235
American Samoa $3,079
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in American Samoa ($1,477–$1,477), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 86% higher than in American Samoa on average.
📊
Both the United States and American Samoa are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, American Samoa by 8%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03$20.03
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0$80.0
$35.28$35.28
126.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80$11.80
$10.03$10.03
17.65%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$0.98$0.98
121.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12$6.12
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94$7.94
$3.92$3.92
102.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$2.62$2.62
-60.31%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59$3.59
$2.83$2.83
26.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.52$4.52
$4.25$4.25
6.35%
Eggs
$4.28$4.28
$4.51$4.51
-5.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22$13.22
$10.30$10.30
28.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60$12.60
$9.95$9.95
26.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.60$17.60
$11.47$11.47
53.44%
Apples(1kg)
$5.30$5.30
$5.93$5.93
-10.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$0.97$0.97
74.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$3.07$3.07
44.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$4.02$4.02
18.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$4.04$4.04
-26.49%
Onion(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$4.05$4.05
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20$2.20
$2.05$2.05
7.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$2.03$2.03
15.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98$10.98
$11.31$11.31
-2.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05$15.05
$15.27$15.27
-1.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.02$1.02
101.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$3.00$3.00
26.33%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
American Samoa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$1.96$1.96
-1.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.4$59.4
$122$122
-51.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$4.99$4.99
-28.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88$1.88
$2.03$2.03
-7.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.84$29.84
$30.26$30.26
-1.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.30$1.30
-21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K$28.8K
$29.6K$29.6K
-2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$19.7K$19.7K
33.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218$218
$410$410
-46.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5$62.5
$29.48$29.48
111.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5$74.5
$75.8$75.8
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.86$41.86
$50.3$50.3
-16.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81$22.81
$9.92$9.92
129.94%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70$14.70
$8.79$8.79
67.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,489$1,489
$1,002$1,002
48.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.3K$25.3K
$9,850$9,850
156.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3$54.3
$69.6$69.6
-21.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71$42.71
$49.84$49.84
-14.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1$94.1
$80.1$80.1
17.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$100$100
13.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
American Samoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,659$1,659
$324$324
412.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$198$198
581.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,682$2,682
$906$906
195.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,169$2,169
$700$700
209.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,283$3,283
$18.1K$18.1K
-81.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,482$2,482
$10.6K$10.6K
-76.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
American Samoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,296$4,296
$1,199$1,199
258.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
3
118.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026
Last update for American Samoa: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K 49.3%
American Samoa
$198 13.5% ↓ 85.3%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$415 15.2%
American Samoa
$367 25% ↓ 11.7%$48
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355 13%
American Samoa
$515 35.1% ↑ 45.2%$160
🍽Eating Out
United States
$328 12%
American Samoa
$42 * 2.9% ↓ 87.2%$286
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
American Samoa
$135 9.2% ↓ 1.7%$2.3
🚌Getting Around
United States
$80 2.9%
American Samoa
$145 9.9% ↑ 81.1%$65
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71 2.6%
American Samoa
$68 4.6% ↓ 4.7%$3.3
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.4%
American Samoa
$700 22.8% ↓ 67.7%$1.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$953 18.2%
American Samoa
$846 27.5% ↓ 11.2%$107
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$417 8%
American Samoa
$545 17.7% ↑ 30.5%$127
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
American Samoa
$248 * 8.1% ↓ 76.6%$814
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.8%
American Samoa
$300 9.7% ↓ 1.7%$5
🚌Getting Around
United States
$164 3.1%
American Samoa
$294 9.6% ↑ 79.2%$130
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$165 3.2%
American Samoa
$146 4.7% ↓ 11.8%$20
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $327 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $327 in Pago Pago.
💰Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $1,183 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 395% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 108% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 98% more expensive in American Samoa.
⭐Salaries are about 3.8 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→American Samoa10,370 km≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
American Samoa
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
United States vs American Samoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Samoa more expensive than the United States?
American Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 46% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $327 in American Samoa.
Should I move to American Samoa or to the United States?
American Samoa is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared