Money in Samoa
Samoa uses the Samoan tala. Here is how to pay there, whether to tip, and what common amounts are worth.
- Currency
- WSTSamoan tala
- Symbol
- WS$
- Tipping
- Not expected
Paying in Samoa
Cash is needed in villages and markets, and ATMs are mostly in Apia.
- Cards
- Accepted in cities and tourist areas
- Cash
- Wild Expedition says cash is king outside major towns, and Takeoff says villages are cash only. Small bills are useful for village entry fees and waterfall access.
- ATMs
- ATMs are in Apia and a few tourist hubs and can be unreliable in remote areas, per Wild Expedition. Takeoff says Apia ATMs can run out of cash on weekends, and Wild Expedition reports a limit of about 1,000 WST per transaction.
- Foreign currency
- Wild Expedition says some tourist areas accept USD or NZD, but advises carrying tala.
- Exchanging money
- Flight Centre says major foreign currencies can be exchanged in Samoa. Wild Expedition gives no exchange locations.
- Watch out for
- Wild Expedition reports some businesses add a 3% to 5% card surcharge. Flight Centre says tipping is not part of the culture and may cause embarrassment.
Tipping in Samoa
Tipping isn't customary. Ask your hotel whether a service charge is added.
Not expected: Tipping isn't customary, and you can skip it without offence.
Sources checked: Wild Expedition, Takeoff, Flight Centre UK, Helloworld NZ, SmarterTravel.
Convert to and from WST
Quick reference
| Amount | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.77 WST | 3.11 WST | 3.72 WST |
| 10 | 27.75 WST | 31.08 WST | 37.23 WST |
| 50 | 139 WST | 155 WST | 186 WST |
| 100 | 277 WST | 311 WST | 372 WST |
| 500 | 1,387 WST | 1,554 WST | 1,862 WST |
What each amount is worth in WST. Mid-market rates from 2 November 2026, 17:00 UTC.
Common questions
What currency does Samoa use?
Samoa uses the Samoan tala (WST).
Do you need to tip in Samoa?
Not expected. Tipping isn't customary. Ask your hotel whether a service charge is added.
Can you pay by card in Samoa?
Accepted in cities and tourist areas. Wild Expedition says cash is king outside major towns, and Takeoff says villages are cash only. Small bills are useful for village entry fees and waterfall access.
Are there ATMs in Samoa?
ATMs are in Apia and a few tourist hubs and can be unreliable in remote areas, per Wild Expedition. Takeoff says Apia ATMs can run out of cash on weekends, and Wild Expedition reports a limit of about 1,000 WST per transaction.