13 Tips to Save Money in American Samoa

American Samoa is a very budget traveller-friendly country LINK#TT036 with plenty of cheap accommodations to choose from. Comfortable B&B-style rooms can be found in guesthouses across Pago Pago, as well as the Manu'a Islands, which we list in The Best Budget Accommodations in American Samoa.

For something even more affordable, while also gaining the most authentic cultural experience possible, choose a homestay! Not only do we list homestays in the link above, but you can also organise village homestays at the National Park of American Samoa Visitor Centre.

Whatever you choose, budget accommodation is a sure-fire way to save a ton while visiting American Samoa!

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 LINK#TT005, 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 much 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? LINK#TT007 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 banks rather than currency exchange bureaus in Pago Pago.

Where is the best place to exchange currency in Pago? American Samoa's banks, like the Bank of Hawaii and ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank, tend to have better exchange rates for swapping foreign currency for US Dollars compared to currency exchange bureaus, which tend to cater more towards the local market.

For more on currency exchange, take a look at our tips in The Best Place to Exchange Currency in American Samoa LINK#TT010.

Local staples, like fruit, vegetables, fish and anything made with coconut cream, are typically much cheaper than dining on international dishes, especially European cuisine.

Some of the cheapest meals and produce can be found at the Fagatogo Market, as well as at roadside fruit, BBQ and bakery stalls. The more you stick local, the more money you’ll save!

Oh, and Asian and deep-fried food is also very cheap in American Samoa. Although McDonald's or Carl's Jr are present in this US territory, they're still not as affordable as the meals mentioned above. 

Check out more cheap eats listed in The Top Cheap Eats in American Samoa LINK#TTD048.

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 LINK#TT011 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 LINK#T002.

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 LINK#TT013, you almost always 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 LINK#TT015.

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 LINK#TTD076.

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 an entry fee most of the time, as is customary in American Samoa. Fill up 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 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do in American Samoa LINK#TTD071.

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?

Making sure you’ve packed everything that you’ll need for your entire time in American Samoa is a good idea if you want to save money.

Imported goods are likely more expensive in American Samoa than they are at home, such as sunscreen, insect repellent or even your usual snacks or food staples that you can’t live without.

What’s more, items like “reef-safe sunscreen” are rarely available in American Samoa, so you’ll certainly want to bring enough to last your entire trip – unless you want to: 1) get burnt and 2) kill the coral you’re snorkelling with.

Make sure you don’t miss a thing by checking out What to Pack for American Samoa: A Full Samoa Packing List.

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 LINK#T007, taxi fares LINK#T038 or even doing a boat or fishing charter LINK#TTD138, 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 LINK#TT036 for more ways to shave the costs.