Vanuatu vs Samoa
Samoa costs roughly 48% less than Vanuatu. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Samoa is approximately 48% less expensive than Vanuatu based on cost of living including rent. This makes Samoa a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Samoa has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 66.8, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Samoa is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Vanuatu
A 5 Mbps internet average rules out serious remote work here; medical care is limited, and private health insurance is recommended for better facilities and medical evacuations. Retirees drawing steady income should look past that: zero personal income tax and a self-funded residence permit requiring just VUV 250,000/mo make this a tax-efficient base for those who can live simply. Safety Index 68.4 and Level 1 travel advisory back that up.
$-38/mo
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About Samoa
Internet speed data is unavailable, but and no retirement visa (digital nomad visa available) make Samoa a hard sell for anyone not already island-bound. Rent outside the center at $150/mo is unbeatable, and a $545/mo cost of living excluding rent keeps budgets thin, but with a complex path to residency and a 27% top income tax, this works only as a cheap, temporary escape, not a long-term base.
$2,105/mo
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| Metric | Vanuatu | Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 112.4 +2.8 | 109.6 |
| Healthcare Index | 55.1 +3.3 | 51.8 |
| Safety Index | 68.4 +1.6 | 66.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 59 | 40 +19.0 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $1,469.2 | $545 +924.2 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $4,749.8 | $1,583 +3,166.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,569.22 | $350 +1,219.22 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,192.98 | $150 +1,042.98 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $3,078.17 | $700 +2,378.17 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,859.47 | $1,157.24 +702.23 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 5 Mbps +5.0 | 0 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Samoa. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
Get covered before you move to Samoa. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
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