13 Tips to Save Money in American Samoa

American Samoa has plenty of affordable accommodations to choose from. You'll find it surprisingly easy to secure comfortable lodging for around US$100 a night in homestays throughout the Manu'a Islands and locally run hotels on Tutuila.

If you're travelling as a group, it's definitely worth looking into holiday homes, particularly in the Manu'a Islands. These often come with one fixed rate for your entire group, which can work out to be less than US$100 per person – a fantastic deal when you're splitting the cost.

We've compiled all our favourite budget-friendly options in The Best Budget Accommodations in American Samoa guide.

When it comes to paying your way in American Samoa, we not only recommend paying with cash, as it’s often the only accepted form of payment, but also to avoid card fees.

Vendors charge an extra 3-5% on all purchases made by foreign bank cards, which certainly adds up after a few purchases!

Bring some cash to American Samoa with you to start your first few days, then exchange it in Pago Pago (see the point below) on arrival.

When you start to get low on funds, withdraw as many US Dollars as you feel comfortable carrying from an ATM to see you through a few more days.

Make sure you secure your cash, however, as petty theft does happen in American Samoa.

Learn more about paying your way through the islands using What is the Best Way to Pay in American Samoa? and keep your cash safe following our American Samoa Safety Tips.

The local currency is the US Dollar, which is one of the world's easiest currencies to exchange, so shop around at home for the best exchange rates before heading to American Samoa. If you don't have the time, then exchange at the currency exchange bureaus at Pago Pago International Airport.

Where is the best place to exchange currency in Pago? While American Samoa's bank, the Territory Bank of American Samoa, tends to have better exchange rates for swapping foreign currency for US Dollars, they are notorious for their long queues, so they are usually not worth the hassle. There are Western Union/No1 Currency branches across Tutuila but they don't have the best rates. The best we found was at Pago Pago International Airport where you have two currency exchange bureaus to choose from.

For more on currency exchange, take a look at our tips in The Best Place to Exchange Currency in American Samoa.

Americans are renowned for their hearty appetites, and Samoans are equally famous for theirs—combine the two cultures and you'll discover some seriously generous portions in American Samoa.

Here's a money-saving tip we've discovered: splitting meals is one of the smartest ways to dine out without breaking the bank. The portions are absolutely massive, so you can easily share a main course between two people (and sometimes even three!).

With mains typically ranging from US$10-$30 at most establishments, this makes dining out incredibly affordable for couples, groups and families. You'll love how much you can save whilst still enjoying a proper feast.

For even better deals, we recommend hitting up the local cheap eats—you'll find some fantastic bargains that way. Check out our comprehensive guide to The Top Cheap Eats in American Samoa for all the best spots we've discovered.

Speaking of meals, accommodations with kitchen facilities are available in some of the guesthouses across Pago Pago, as well as some accommodations in the Manu'a Islands.

Buying local groceries and cooking for yourself will save you a ton compared to eating out continuously.

So, look out for listings with kitchen facilities in our guide, Where to Stay in American Samoa: 10 Best Accommodations, and follow the advice in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in American Samoa to learn about where to shop.

American Samoa’s 'aiga buses are an iconic part of the landscape, suited up in vibrant colours and blasting reggae remixes as they chug along the island roads. What’s more, they are incredibly cheap, costing only a couple of dollars.

While buses are regular and can get you to just about anywhere on Tutuila, they don’t run on any particular schedule, so they are not always the most reliable form of transport.

But if you’ve got the time but not got the money, taking the bus in American Samoa is a definite way to save some cash.

Learn more about taking the bus in our American Samoa Bus Guide: Bus Fares, Routes & More.

The internet is not something to take for granted in American Samoa. Apart from a few limited situations that we list in How to Get Internet & WiFi in American Samoa, you often have to pay for WiFi.

Most of the time, it isn’t good and it isn’t cheap.

If you plan on keeping connected for your whole trip, you’ll save money and have a more reliable connection if you connect to the internet using a local SIM card. The local phone networks also hire out portable modems if you need to connect alternative devices or your phone isn’t compatible with the local frequency.

Learn more about getting connected with our complete guide, The Best SIM Card in American Samoa for Travellers.

The highlights of American Samoa are not helicopter rides, skydiving or spa treatments (although the latter is actually quite affordable in Pago), but its natural wonders.

Discovering waterfalls, national park hiking trails, historical sites and coastal formations doesn’t demand too much from your wallet, even if you need to pay the odd beach fee, as is customary in American Samoa. Fill your time sightseeing instead of doing costly activities and you’re sure to save big!

For a list of affordable attractions and experiences, in which we state what’s free and what’s not, take a look at the 40 Free & Cheap Things to Do in American Samoa.

Whatever you do, don’t waste money (and kill the environment) by buying bottles of water throughout your trip.

If you know you’re staying at an accommodation with filtered drinking water, have a few reusable water bottles to refill at the resort before you head out.

Alternatively, we highly recommend using a water purification bottle, such as Lifestraw, which removes 99.999999% of bacteria and 99.999% of parasites from water. That way, you can refill the bottle from any tap water you come across.

We’ve used ours right across the South Pacific with no issues!

For more tips on having access to water, check out Is the Water Safe to Drink in American Samoa?

Here's something we've learned the hard way: baggage allowances in American Samoa are surprisingly strict, and they can hit your wallet if you're not careful.

If you're flying from Apia, you'll get 33-44 lbs (15-20 kg) for checked baggage. But here's where it gets tricky – flights to the Manu'a Islands (that's Ofu and Ta'ū) only allow 22 lbs (10 kg) of checked luggage.

Stick to these limits religiously, especially on Apia flights. They're incredibly strict about enforcement, and you'll be looking at an extra US$40 for an overweight bag – or even more if you need to check an additional piece.

The good news? Domestic flights to Manu'a are generally more relaxed about the rules (unless the flight's packed to capacity, then they get strict again).

Our advice? Weigh your bags before you leave home and pack light – your budget will thank you later.

The more people you travel with, the more savings you’re likely to make!

Whether it’s splitting the cost of a holiday home rental, car rental, taxi fares or even doing a boat or fishing charter, there are certainly more savings to be made as a tribe.

Before we conclude this list of money-saving tips, we can’t forget to mention how you can save money on your trip to American Samoa by saving on your flight to American Samoa!

There are multiple airlines and routes for getting to the islands, connecting in either Samoa or Hawai'i, so be sure to compare all of your options following the advice in Getting Here: How to Get to American Samoa and Which Airlines Fly Directly to American Samoa?

As an extra tip for those parking at the airport before departing for American Samoa, be sure to compare third-party park-and-ride companies rather than just paying at the official airport car park. They are usually significantly cheaper!

If you’ve made it all the way to this point on this list of tips to save money in American Samoa, then you probably don’t need this tip but we’ll tell you anyway… Doing your research about American Samoa before you travel ensures that you’re staying in the best-value accommodation, getting the best deals on activities, and making your dollars stretch further thanks to the money-saving tips we offer here at American Samoa Pocket Guide!

Head to The Backpacking & Budget Travel Guide to American Samoa for more ways to shave the costs.