The Palagi (pronounced Parlangi) Perspective of living and working in Samoa.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The little one holds the big Log of wood
This Saturday, 30th July the Hyundai girls A team won the netball shield off top of the league SCOPA in a controlled and skilled game. Well done ladies!!
hello, I am coming to Samoa from next month in order to start an internship in Apia and I've just found your blog while I was looking information for living in Samoa. Can you tell me how much approximately costs for the living expenses in Apia including rent, food, internet, gas etc... Plus, I am coming from UK and was wondering whether there is anything I should bring in from here. I hope to hear from you! Thank you.
Talofa Mari. Nice to hear from you. I hope you will enjoy living in Samoa. It certainly is a beautiful island though you will find it quiet compared to the UK. I hope you like beaches?
To answer your questions, rent of course depends on what exactly you want. To share a house you would pay several hundred a month. For a 1-2 bedroom place with no fans, aircon or laundry is around $1000 per month or to have those things $2000 per month. You can go executive and bevery comfortable for over $4000 per month. Food will also depend on whether you eat local foods from the market. In season this can be cheap for example a bunch of bananas $1-$2. We find we like a few imported things too. There is not a huge range hete so you have to shop around to find what you are looking for. If you have a house with hot water it is likely to be from a gas bottle that costs $80. Power is on a top up basis and is about $150 per month. Intrenet is very expensive. We use the local mobile network for internet as it is $400 ish for a GB per month.
Regarding what to bring, summer clothes! You wont need anything warm as it is approximately 30 degrees every day here. Electronics like laptop, phone, camera, usb and hard drive. These are available but expensive. Mainly just bring yourself and an open mind to enjoy the island lifestyle! Houses are generally furnished. Easiest to travel light.
If you want to look for rental options go to the Samoa Realty web site they have several and are very helpful.
Let us know if we can help with anything else and maybe we will bump into you when you get here!
Oh and if you play netball I can help you with a club. Its a great way to meet friends!
Dear Adam and Angela, Thank you for your response and warm greetings! I am arriving there on 12th and so much excited to start an internship in such a beautiful tropical island! I love sea, nature, fruits, vegies and dancing!! So I know that I will love this country. Well, to be honest with you, as I am an unpaid internship and going there straight after my uni, I don't think I can spend a lot of money... Apparently, living costs are going to be 1000-1200 WST,,, but it seems that it will cost more... Maybe it depends how you live though. I will have a look with the website you suggested me to see the average rate and how the rooms look like.
Anyway, as you said, I will just bring myself and enjoy the moment living there. UK is already heading to autumn, so I am really waiting to get there!
I hope to see you there and I may ask you a few more things later on, so please keep in touch.
Hi there. The Palagi Perspective tells you about our experiences of living and working in the tropical island of Western Samoa. This is purely our perspective as a palagi, pakeha or white person. No offence is intended by any of our comments. We would just like to tell you about what we find amusing and unusual. We hope you enjoy ....
4 comments:
Congratulations! Well done - hope there was plenty of celebration.
hello,
I am coming to Samoa from next month in order to start an internship in Apia and I've just found your blog while I was looking information for living in Samoa.
Can you tell me how much approximately costs for the living expenses in Apia including rent, food, internet, gas etc...
Plus, I am coming from UK and was wondering whether there is anything I should bring in from here.
I hope to hear from you!
Thank you.
Mari
Talofa Mari. Nice to hear from you. I hope you will enjoy living in Samoa. It certainly is a beautiful island though you will find it quiet compared to the UK. I hope you like beaches?
To answer your questions, rent of course depends on what exactly you want. To share a house you would pay several hundred a month. For a 1-2 bedroom place with no fans, aircon or laundry is around $1000 per month or to have those things $2000 per month. You can go executive and bevery comfortable for over $4000 per month. Food will also depend on whether you eat local foods from the market. In season this can be cheap for example a bunch of bananas $1-$2. We find we like a few imported things too. There is not a huge range hete so you have to shop around to find what you are looking for. If you have a house with hot water it is likely to be from a gas bottle that costs $80. Power is on a top up basis and is about $150 per month. Intrenet is very expensive. We use the local mobile network for internet as it is $400 ish for a GB per month.
Regarding what to bring, summer clothes! You wont need anything warm as it is approximately 30 degrees every day here. Electronics like laptop, phone, camera, usb and hard drive. These are available but expensive. Mainly just bring yourself and an open mind to enjoy the island lifestyle! Houses are generally furnished. Easiest to travel light.
If you want to look for rental options go to the Samoa Realty web site they have several and are very helpful.
Let us know if we can help with anything else and maybe we will bump into you when you get here!
Oh and if you play netball I can help you with a club. Its a great way to meet friends!
Safe trip over. See you soon.
Dear Adam and Angela,
Thank you for your response and warm greetings! I am arriving there on 12th and so much excited to start an internship in such a beautiful tropical island! I love sea, nature, fruits, vegies and dancing!! So I know that I will love this country.
Well, to be honest with you, as I am an unpaid internship and going there straight after my uni, I don't think I can spend a lot of money... Apparently, living costs are going to be 1000-1200 WST,,, but it seems that it will cost more... Maybe it depends how you live though.
I will have a look with the website you suggested me to see the average rate and how the rooms look like.
Anyway, as you said, I will just bring myself and enjoy the moment living there. UK is already heading to autumn, so I am really waiting to get there!
I hope to see you there and I may ask you a few more things later on, so please keep in touch.
Thank you very much! and see you so soon!!
Mari
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