Moving to United States from Samoa

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Samoa to United States — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Samoa to United States. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 86°F in Apia, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Samoa to United States, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
170 ↑ 35% vs 2022

people moved from Samoa to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Samoa and United States stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

WS
6.2
US
6.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

WS
9.6
US
14.2

Samoa performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

WS
$474
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

WS
5.5
US
36.1

United States 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

WS
34.0
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

WS
1.6t
US
13.6t

Samoa generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

WS
0.8
US
37.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

WS
78.0%
US
92.0%

United States performs significantly 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

WS
9.8%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

WS
$6,000
US
$73,600

United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Samoa leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

WS
75.2 yrs
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

WS
17.0
US
5.2

United States performs significantly better than Samoa across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Revenue, Samoa, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Apia Washington
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/74°F (30°/23°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/73°F (30°/23°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/74°F (30°/24°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Apia Washington
Jan 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Samoa passport holders need a visa to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from United States?

With 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Samoa and United States.

Is United States safe for expats?

Samoa performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.2 in Samoa.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Samoa?

United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 5.5 in Samoa. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Samoa: 55).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Samoa?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 86°F in Apia. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Apia gets 116.7 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.

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At a Glance

WS US
Population 206,179 337,341,954
Currency Samoan Tala (WST) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Samoan English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +685 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 911