Retiring in American Samoa: a complete guide

Key takeaways

• American Samoa offers a unique, tropical, laid-back retirement, far removed from mainland life.
• Its population is only around 46,000, one of the smallest and most remote parts of the US.
• Limited healthcare access and isolation are real tradeoffs to weigh.

Is American Samoa a good place to retire?

American Samoa can be a good place to retire if you're drawn to a remote, tropical, and culturally distinct way of life, but it's a tough fit if you want easy access to healthcare, travel, or amenities. American Samoa is a US territory in the South Pacific, closer to Australia than to the mainland US, known for its lush landscapes and slower pace of life.

According to the 2020 US Census, American Samoa's population was 49,710, and it's been declining since, to around 46,000 today, making it one of the smallest and most remote parts of the country.

How can I move to American Samoa?

If you are a US citizen, you can live and work in American Samoa just like you would elsewhere in the US. 

However, it’s important to note American Samoa has its own immigration law and is not governed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

To enter American Samoa, a US citizen must hold a US passport or birth certificate showing they are a US citizen or national, and a ticket for onward passage out of American Samoa or proof of employment in American Samoa.

If US citizens want to stay in American Samoa for more than 30 days, they must get approval from the Attorney General of American Samoa.

What is the cost of living in American Samoa?

Those living in American Samoa will likely contend with a higher cost of living than those in the US.

According to data from the Economic Research Institute (ERI), living in American Samoa, and Pago Pago (the capital city) in particular, is slightly more expensive than in other places in the US. 

While food, housing, and healthcare are below the US average, the cost of labor is much lower than in the rest of the US, meaning your money has to stretch much further. So, for many people, living in American Samoa is likely to be fairly expensive, though it depends on where you’d be moving from, of course.

What are the pros and cons of retiring in American Samoa?

Is American Samoa a good place to retire, or a bad place to retire? It really depends on how much you value a tropical, remote lifestyle over convenience. Here are the pros and cons of retiring in American Samoa.

✅ Pros of retiring in American Samoa

• Tropical environment: Beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and a peaceful, vibrant setting for outdoor activities.
• Cultural scene: Traditional dances, music, and food, plus events like Flag Day and the Teuila Festival.
• A relaxed pace of life: Slower and more laid-back than most mainland US locations.

❌ Cons of retiring in American Samoa

• Limited healthcare options: Healthcare access is limited for a small territory; research your coverage options carefully before moving.
• Isolation: A remote location with limited access to outside travel and goods.
• Limited job opportunities: A small economy, worth weighing if you might need to work during retirement.

Non-natives also can't own land outright. Around 96% of property is communally owned under Matai leadership, so retirees are generally limited to long-term leaseholds rather than buying property the way they could elsewhere in the US. 

How can I own American Samoa real estate?

Buying property or owning American Samoa real estate is complicated.

Non-natives of American Samoa are not permitted to own land, meaning they cannot purchase property like they would in the US. Instead, the majority of the land is communally owned, with Matai leaders overseeing its control. This land makes up 96% of all property in American Samoa. 

While US retirees may not be able to purchase land in the territory, they can enter into long-term leaseholds.

Best places to retire in American Samoa

Here are some of the best places to retire in American Samoa:

• Pago Pago: The capital and largest town, set in a natural harbor with shops, restaurants, and healthcare facilities alongside a relaxed island vibe.
• Leone: A village on western Tutuila known for its beaches, coral reefs, and rainforests, good for hiking, fishing, and swimming.
• Aua: A quiet southern-coast village with picturesque beaches and scenic cliffs.
• Tafuna: Home to the main airport and the territory's commercial hub, mixing shops and restaurants with rainforest and secluded beaches.
• Ofu: A remote, secluded island in the Manu'a group, known for coral reefs and white sand, best for those seeking real solitude.

What age can you retire in American Samoa?

There's no mandated retirement age in American Samoa, though the territory's legislature sets a "normal retirement age" of 65, similar to the mainland. A few age-related factors are worth knowing:

• Social Security benefits: Start as early as 62, with higher monthly payments the longer you delay, up to full retirement age at 66–67 depending on birth year.
• Medicare eligibility: Begins at 65 regardless of retirement status, but since American Samoa is a territory, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are often unavailable and few local providers accept Original Medicare, so healthcare coverage needs real research before you move.
• Retirement savings: Most financial experts recommend saving at least 15% of your income for retirement.

Taxes in American Samoa for Retirees

American Samoa's tax system is genuinely different from any US state, so it's worth understanding before you move:

• Income tax: American Samoa runs its own separate income tax system rather than the federal one, based on the US tax code as it stood on December 31, 2000, with rates from 15% up to roughly 39.6%. Retirees don't file a federal return on American-Samoa-source income, but they do file locally.
• Social Security and Medicare payroll tax: These still apply to anyone working in American Samoa, same as in the states. Whether Social Security benefits are taxed under American Samoa's local code isn't clearly documented publicly, so retirees relying heavily on Social Security should confirm the current treatment with the American Samoa Tax Office or a tax professional before relying on any assumption.
• Sales tax: There's no general sales tax. Instead, a roughly 4% General Excise Tax applies to most goods and services, though it exempts food, medicine, and medical and educational services.
• Property tax: Set locally by the American Samoa Government; there's no standardized, publicly comparable effective rate the way there is for US states, so get a specific estimate for any property you're considering.

Retiring in American Samoa vs. Other US Territories

American Samoa has no bordering states to compare against, so retirees weighing it most often weigh it against the other US territories instead. Here's how it compares.

American Samoa vs. Guam

Guam is a "mirror code" territory, meaning its income tax automatically tracks current federal brackets (up to 37%) rather than American Samoa's rates frozen at 2000-era levels. Guam has no general sales tax either, relying on a similar gross-receipts-style business tax instead.

Guam suits retirees who want tax rules that track current federal law; American Samoa suits those prioritizing a lower-key, more remote lifestyle.

American Samoa vs. Puerto Rico

Like American Samoa, Puerto Rico runs its own independent tax code rather than mirroring the federal one, but Puerto Rico layers on a roughly 11.5% sales and use tax and offers well-known tax-incentive programs that can sharply cut rates for qualifying new residents.

Puerto Rico suits retirees chasing an aggressive tax-incentive package; American Samoa suits those who'd rather skip a general sales tax altogether.

American Samoa vs. U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands mirrors current federal income tax brackets like Guam, but also runs its own incentive program that can significantly lower effective rates for qualifying residents. Like American Samoa, it has no general sales tax, using a gross receipts tax instead.

The U.S. Virgin Islands suits retirees who can qualify for its incentive program; American Samoa suits those most drawn to the South Pacific over the Caribbean.

Is American Samoa the right place to retire?

American Samoa suits retirees who want a remote, tropical, and culturally rich lifestyle and are comfortable with real trade-offs on healthcare access and connectivity. It's a tougher fit for anyone who wants easy travel, a broad job market, or straightforward property ownership.

Unbiased can match you with a financial advisor to help you weigh American Samoa's tax benefits against its limited healthcare access and remoteness.

Frequently asked questions

Does American Samoa tax Social Security?

It's not clearly documented. American Samoa runs its own local income tax code rather than the federal one, and how it treats Social Security benefits specifically isn't well publicized, so confirm with the American Samoa Tax Office before assuming either way.

At what age can you retire in American Samoa?

There's no mandated retirement age. Social Security benefits can start at 62, full benefits arrive at 66–67 depending on birth year, and Medicare eligibility begins at 65, though practical Medicare coverage is limited locally.

What's the best place to retire in American Samoa?

It depends on your priorities: Pago Pago for amenities and healthcare access, Leone or Aua for beaches and quiet, Ofu for real seclusion.

Is American Samoa a bad place to retire?

Not necessarily, but it's a tough fit for anyone who needs easy healthcare access, frequent travel, or a larger job market. For those drawn to a remote, tropical lifestyle, the trade-offs are often worth it.

Is American Samoa tax-friendly for retirees?

Mixed. There's no general sales tax and food and medicine are excise-tax exempt, but income tax rates run up to roughly 39.6% under the territory's own, dated tax code, and Social Security's exact local treatment isn't clearly documented.