Costs in Samoa

A realistic household budget in Samoa combines cash payments with goods produced or received without a cash payment. The Samoa Bureau of Statistics 2023 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) covered 3,074 households and estimated about 32,040 households and 209,184 people, with an average household size of 6.5 people. Its regional results cover the Apia Urban Area, North-West Upolu, Rest of Upolu and Savai'i. Reliable local figures below these four areas are not available in the research data. Housing and utilities form one of the largest recurring blocks. Average annual household spending for housing, water, electricity and gas was SAT$8,161, while the median was SAT$5,934. The Apia Urban Area recorded an average of SAT$10,856 and a median of SAT$7,955; Savai'i recorded an average of SAT$6,072 and a median of SAT$5,001. These figures include imputed rent, which represented 67% of the division. That reflects the value of owner-occupied, family and village housing and means that a rent-only comparison understates the full housing burden. Electricity accounted for 11%, gas 9%, water 8% and actual rent only 2% of the division. Government house rent rose by 25% in August 2026. Water charges from the Samoa Water Authority are tiered: SAT$0.61 per cubic metre for 1 to 15 cubic metres, SAT$1.34 for 15 to 40 cubic metres and SAT$1.74 above 40 cubic metres, or a flat SAT$16 monthly charge where that tariff applies. Wastewater costs SAT$3.50 per cubic metre below 72 cubic metres and SAT$5.90 above that level. A new connection has a SAT$20 survey fee and installation costs SAT$200 without a road crossing, SAT$250 for a rural road crossing or SAT$500 for an urban road crossing. A 3,000-litre water truck delivery costs about SAT$200 in urban areas and SAT$250 in rural areas. The water portal states that payment is overdue after 90 days and lists reconnection at SAT$570, while the tariff page lists SAT$70; the current charge should therefore be confirmed directly with the Samoa Water Authority before setting aside money. The Electricity Power Corporation charges new-connection process fees of SAT$50 or SAT$100, depending on the supply configuration. The final connection cost varies after inspection. Postpaid bills are due on the 20th of the month, become overdue from the 21st, and reconnection costs SAT$200. Electricity tariffs and fuel surcharges can change monthly under regulation by the Office of the Regulator and the Electricity Power Corporation. A licensed electrician, identification, inspection and other connection requirements can affect the initial amount. Food is the largest national household cost category. The HIES recorded national household food and non-alcoholic beverage expenditure of SAT$565.1 million. A budget should separate cash purchases from taro, coconut, bananas, vegetables, fresh fish, koko Samoa and other food obtained through own production, family exchange or village support. Markets such as Fugalei, Taufusi, Afega and Salelologa provide local purchasing options, while imported and supermarket goods are more exposed to freight, fuel and exchange-rate changes. In August 2026, cucumber prices rose 41.1% year on year, turkey wings 25.0%, potatoes 20.8%, mutton flaps 17.8%, onions 13.6% and fresh fish 2.5%. Comparing prices again between July and August can reveal seasonal or supply-related changes. Transport affects most households. Ninety-one percent of households reported transport expenditure, with an average of SAT$6,638 per year and a median of SAT$4,332. The urban average was SAT$8,205 and the rural average SAT$6,285. The average was SAT$2,113 for the lowest expenditure quintile and SAT$11,709 for the highest. The Land Transport Authority fare list valid from 31 July 2026 gives Savai'i bus fares from Salelologa of about SAT$0.70 to SAT$15.80 depending on the journey. Taxi fares near Salelologa start at about SAT$3.20, while long-distance fares are higher. Samoa Tourism lists a taxi minimum of SAT$3 and about SAT$60 to SAT$70 between Faleolo Airport and Apia. In August 2026, transport prices rose 16.2%, petrol 18.1%, diesel 25.2%, taxi fares 30.5% and bus fares 31.3%. A private vehicle also requires fuel, maintenance, registration, insurance or repair reserves, private plates costing SAT$210, a special WOF costing SAT$63 and an ownership transfer fee of SAT$126. Health spending appears relatively small in the HIES, with national household expenditure of SAT$9.86 million, but a single consultation, medicine purchase, dental treatment, diagnostic test or trip to a health facility can create a large burden. Formal services include the Ministry of Health and National Health Services, TTM Hospital, MT2 Hospital and district health centres. The research data do not provide a reliable current public fee schedule. Private doctor consultation prices rose 38.9% in July 2026 and the health category rose 7.2% year on year in August. The Samoa Overseas Medical Treatment Scheme requires formal referral, screening and approval. Overseas treatment can also require passports, visas, an accompanying person and living expenses; an example cost of about SAT$8,000 for an accompanying flight to India shows why this belongs in an exceptional-risk reserve rather than a normal monthly allowance. Education costs depend on the school type and year. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture's Samoa School Fee Grant Scheme covers tuition for primary and secondary Years 9 to 11 at government and mission schools. Early childhood education, private or mission arrangements outside the covered scope, Years 12 and 13, uniforms, shoes, books, exercise books, transport and examination fees can remain household expenses. National HIES education expenditure was SAT$25.89 million. The National University of Samoa is a local tertiary option, but fees depend on the course and semester and should be checked against the current fee schedule before enrolment. Communication services are formally provided by Digicel Samoa and Vodafone Samoa. The Office of the Regulator approves retail tariffs. National HIES communication expenditure was SAT$53.93 million; in August 2026, communication prices fell 0.2% and prepaid internet prices fell 3.4%. The useful comparison is the full bundle of data, calls, validity, coverage and location, because fixed-line and internet availability depends on where the household lives. Current package prices and promotions should be checked with the provider or the Office of the Regulator. Family and community support follows Fa'a Samoa, aiga, church, village and ceremony relationships. Cash remittances were reported by more than 80% of households. Funeral, ceremony, family-support and remittance payments are mainly informal and do not follow one national monthly rate. The HIES recorded SAT$275.1 million in non-consumption cash transfers, including financial support, ceremonies, remittances and cash transfers. A household budget should therefore include a variable family and community block plus a reserve for ceremonies, funerals and other obligations. Leisure can involve low-cost nature, village and family activities or paid access to village- and family-managed sites. The Samoa Cultural Village charges SAT$20 for adults, SAT$5 for children aged 6 to 12 and nothing for children under 4. HIES recreation and culture expenditure was SAT$31.34 million. Food away from home should be tracked separately: 94% of households reported such expenditure, with an average of SAT$7,326 and a median of SAT$5,475 per year. Accommodation represented only 1% of that division. Restaurants and hotels rose 1.1% in August 2026, while recreation and culture rose 0.7%. For a monthly plan, use housing and utilities, food, communication and transport as recurring blocks. Keep health, education, family and ceremony payments, leisure and repairs as variable blocks. Record one-off amounts for utility connections, vehicle costs, school starts, dental care, diagnostics and overseas treatment. The national HIES totals were SAT$261.5 million for housing, water, electricity and gas, SAT$212.7 million for transport, SAT$53.93 million for communication, SAT$25.89 million for education, SAT$234.7 million for restaurants and hotels, SAT$65.15 million for miscellaneous goods and services, and SAT$39.22 million for intermediate expenditure. These are national household totals, not a recommended budget for one household. Use the HIES median before the average when estimating a typical household, then adjust for household size, housing form, region, urban or rural location, own production and remittances. The HIES figures are from 2023, so update them with current provider prices and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In August 2026, annual inflation was 3.6%, monthly inflation was 0.2% and average annual inflation was 1.2%; imported goods rose 3.2% and locally produced goods 4.0%. The strongest listed changes were transport, health and housing, water, electricity and gas. Samoa Bureau of Statistics supplies HIES, CPI and local market data; the Samoa Water Authority handles water and wastewater; the Electricity Power Corporation handles electricity; the Land Transport Authority handles fares and vehicle requirements; the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture and the National University of Samoa cover education matters; and the Ministry of Health and National Health Services cover formal health services. No reliable standardized nationwide minimum household cost was identified, so a single national minimum figure would give a false impression of precision.