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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in United States versus $1,002 in Samoa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $2,533 in Samoa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,071 in United States versus $4,063 in Samoa.

Living in United States is roughly 164% more expensive than in Samoa on average.

United States (98% above) and Samoa (25% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,341 to $5,102, compared to $1,002$1,002 in Samoa. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Samoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.02 $20.02
$53.0 WST 145
-62.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$35.49 WST 97.2
110.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.67 $11.67
$13.82 WST 37.88
-15.56%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$2.54 WST 6.97
108.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.99 WST 5.45
24.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.26 WST 3.45
67.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.42 WST 12.10
31.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$3.45 WST 9.46
100.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Samoa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.80 WST 4.94
-40.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$0.76 WST 2.10
376.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$1.84 WST 5.04
154.35%
Eggs
$4.23 $4.23
$4.22 WST 11.56
0.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.07 $13.07
$0.85 WST 2.33
1437.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$3.64 WST 9.97
241.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.12 $16.12
$8.39 WST 23.00
92.13%
Apples (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$5.15 WST 14.11
2.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.83 WST 5.01
-9.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.83 WST 5.01
146.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.02 $5.02
$4.39 WST 12.03
14.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.61 WST 9.89
-17.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.05 WST 2.86
200.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.20 WST 3.29
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$6.15 WST 16.84
63.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$16.25 WST 44.52
-6.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.84 WST 5.04
5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.61 WST 9.91
-1.66%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Samoa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.63 WST 9.96
-32.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.0 $65.0
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 $3.84
$5.30 WST 14.53
-27.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.30 $30.30
$21.05 WST 57.7
43.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.05 WST 2.87
-16.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Samoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$18.13 WST 49.67
1027.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$17.80 WST 48.78
222.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$36.42 WST 99.8
93.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Samoa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.43 $45.43
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.15 $22.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Samoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Samoa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$49.65 WST 136
3.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.10 $43.10
$40.72 WST 112
5.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 $90.1
$75.2 WST 206
19.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$99.4 WST 272
15.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Samoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,703 $1,703
$348 WST 953
389.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,451 $1,451
$150 WST 411
867.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,834 $2,834
$710 WST 1,946
299.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,365 $2,365
$1,177 WST 3,225
100.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,338 $3,338
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,570 $2,570
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Samoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
-
-
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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Samoa: July 20, 2026

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
United States vs Samoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Samoa and United States?
At $1,002 per month in Samoa and $3,222 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Samoa: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in United States?
In Samoa, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in 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 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

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