Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Rarotonga Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Rarotonga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Avarua vs $1,368 in Rarotonga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Avarua vs $2,042 in Rarotonga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Avarua vs $2,716 in Rarotonga, rent included.

Avarua is about 38% cheaper than Rarotonga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Avarua sits 37% below the global median, while Rarotonga is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.23 NZ$20.91

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 NZ$103

$60.9 NZ$104

-0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 NZ$15.22

$7.53 NZ$12.87

18.19%

Cappuccino

$3.65 NZ$6.24

$4.44 NZ$7.59

-17.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 NZ$4.65

$3.23 NZ$5.52

-15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 NZ$4.16

$2.87 NZ$4.91

-15.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 NZ$10.33

$6.60 NZ$11.28

-8.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 NZ$8.56

$5.39 NZ$9.21

-7.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 NZ$3.16

$2.24 NZ$3.84

-17.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 NZ$6.11

$3.02 NZ$5.16

18.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 NZ$3.02

$1.55 NZ$2.64

14.19%

Eggs

$5.16 NZ$8.83

$6.34 NZ$10.84

-18.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.01 NZ$20.54

$8.97 NZ$15.35

33.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.54 NZ$14.60

$7.25 NZ$12.40

17.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.97 NZ$18.75

$7.07 NZ$12.09

55.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 NZ$5.25

$3.03 NZ$5.19

1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 NZ$3.00

$3.08 NZ$5.26

-42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 NZ$6.23

$3.56 NZ$6.09

2.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.93 NZ$16.98

$3.04 NZ$5.20

226.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 NZ$5.09

$1.84 NZ$3.14

61.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 NZ$4.08

$1.37 NZ$2.34

73.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 NZ$4.05

$1.85 NZ$3.16

28.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 NZ$5.07

$3.66 NZ$6.25

-18.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.36 NZ$26.27

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 NZ$25.15

$11.99 NZ$20.50

22.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 NZ$6.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 NZ$7.60

$5.37 NZ$9.18

-17.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 NZ$5.03

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.94 NZ$35.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.69 NZ$61.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 NZ$3.16

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.2K NZ$20.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 NZ$210

$91.3 NZ$156

34.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.06 NZ$51.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 NZ$178

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.68 NZ$42.21

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.30 NZ$41.54

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 NZ$11.95

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,431 NZ$2,447

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 NZ$116

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 NZ$125

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 NZ$271

$489 NZ$836

-67.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 NZ$266

$484 NZ$827

-67.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 NZ$298

$723 NZ$1,237

-75.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 NZ$395

$718 NZ$1,229

-67.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,010 NZ$8,568

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$767 NZ$1,311

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,070 NZ$6,960

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Avarua: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rarotonga: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Avarua versus $489 in Rarotonga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Avarua versus $61.0 in Rarotonga. Groceries tell a different story – $381 in Avarua vs $343 in Rarotonga – so Rarotonga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Avarua vs Rarotonga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rarotonga costs about 62% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,270 per month in Avarua and $2,052 in Rarotonga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $847 in Avarua and $1,368 in Rarotonga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Rarotonga – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Rarotonga at $1,368. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rarotonga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Avarua – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Avarua. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rarotonga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.