😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in United States versus $999 in Samoa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $2,576 in Samoa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,070 in United States versus $4,152 in Samoa.
😐Living in United States is roughly 165% more expensive than Samoa on average.
📊United States (97% above) and Samoa (25% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,343 to $5,081, compared to $999–$999 in Samoa. City choice carries more weight in United States.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Samoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04$20.04
$53.7WST 146
-62.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0$76.0
$36.26WST 98.8
109.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42$11.42
$14.08WST 38.35
-18.89%
Cappuccino
$5.39$5.39
$2.51WST 6.83
114.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$2.10WST 5.73
21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.27WST 3.47
60.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14$6.14
$4.25WST 11.59
44.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$3.50WST 9.54
105.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Samoa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.84WST 5.00
-43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.65$3.65
$0.77WST 2.10
374.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.73$4.73
$1.75WST 4.76
170.29%
Eggs
$4.38$4.38
$4.11WST 11.20
6.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76$12.76
$0.92WST 2.49
1286.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.42$12.42
$3.60WST 9.81
245.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.41$16.41
$8.22WST 22.41
99.64%
Apples(1kg)
$5.42$5.42
$4.94WST 13.45
9.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.83WST 4.97
-9.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.59$4.59
$1.82WST 4.95
152.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.91$4.91
$4.31WST 11.74
13.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.92$2.92
$3.48WST 9.49
-16.09%
Onion(1kg)
$3.13$3.13
$1.10WST 2.99
184.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26$2.26
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$1.19WST 3.25
93.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89$9.89
$6.04WST 16.46
63.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.10$15.10
$16.29WST 44.39
-7.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$1.80WST 4.91
6.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66$3.66
$3.49WST 9.51
4.87%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Samoa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48$2.48
$3.49WST 9.52
-28.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.8$64.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84$3.84
$5.47WST 14.91
-29.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76$1.76
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.58$30.58
$21.53WST 58.7
42.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$1.04WST 2.84
-7.69%
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
United States
Samoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204$204
$17.93WST 48.84
1038.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3$57.3
$17.66WST 48.10
224.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2$71.2
$35.75WST 97.4
99.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Samoa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.67$46.67
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.12$22.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.84$13.84
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Samoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,384$1,384
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.7K$22.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Samoa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0$53.0
$50.9WST 139
4.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17$43.17
$39.63WST 108
8.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6$90.6
$76.0WST 207
19.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$99.4WST 271
14.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Samoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,766$1,766
$352WST 958
402.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,459$1,459
$150WST 408
874.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,832$2,832
$707WST 1,925
300.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,411$2,411
$1,134WST 3,091
112.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,287$3,287
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,650$2,650
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Samoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,379$4,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United States: May 30, 2026
Last update for Samoa: June 1, 2026
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 109% 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
United States vs Samoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Samoa and United States?
At $999 per month in Samoa and $3,212 in 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?
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 $1,000 a realistic budget in Samoa or United States?
In Samoa, $1,000 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.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared