Moving to Samoa from Saudi Arabia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Saudi Arabia 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Samoa compared to Saudi Arabia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

SA
0.8
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SA
18.5
WS
9.6

Saudi Arabia generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SA
$3,475
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SA
30.8
WS
5.5

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
91.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SA
18.5t
WS
1.6t

Samoa performs significantly better than Saudi Arabia 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

SA
37.0
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

SA
100.0%
WS
78.0%

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
4.9%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SA
$49,600
WS
$6,000

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
76.7 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SA
12.3
WS
17.0

Saudi Arabia generally does better on family life, though Samoa leads in literacy rate.

Data: Department of Zakat and Income Tax, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Riyadh Rain: 4.4 in/yr (111 mm)
92° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riyadh Apia
Jan–Mar 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Riyadh Apia
Jan 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Saudi Arabia 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.

Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
Saudi Arabia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa Required
Samoa passport holders need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.

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?

Saudi Arabia generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Saudi Arabia.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia 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 30.8 in Saudi Arabia. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saudi Arabia: 74).

What's the weather like in Samoa compared to Saudi Arabia?

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 92°F in Riyadh. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Riyadh gets 4.4 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Saudi Arabia, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SA WS
Population 35,354,380 206,179
Currency Saudi Riyal (SAR) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Arabic English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +966 +685
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911