Moving to Samoa from Russia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Russia to Samoa? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Russia to Samoa, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Samoan. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Apia averages 86°F vs 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Samoa compared to Russia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RU
6.8
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RU
10.6
WS
9.6

Samoa performs significantly better than Russia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RU
$3,204
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RU
38.3
WS
5.5

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RU
39.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RU
14.0t
WS
1.6t

Samoa performs significantly better than Russia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RU
24.8
WS
0.8

Russia performs better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RU
3.3%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RU
$39,800
WS
$6,000

Russia performs better than Samoa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RU
72.4 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RU
6.4
WS
17.0

Russia generally does better on family life, though Samoa leads in life expectancy.

Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Moscow Apia
Jan–Mar 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Moscow Apia
Jan 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia and Samoa. To live, work, or study long-term in Samoa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Samoa's immigration authority.

Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa Free
Russia passport holders can enter Samoa without a visa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Russia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Samoa passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Russia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Samoa?

Connectivity is usually fine (Samoa: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Samoa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Samoa safe for expats?

Samoa performs significantly better than Russia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Russia?

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).

What's the weather like in Samoa compared to Russia?

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Russia, the official language is Russian.

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At a Glance

RU WS
Population 142,021,981 206,179
Currency Russian Ruble (RUB) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Russian English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +7 +685
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 112