Cost of Living Comparison Between Cook Islands and Fiji Cost of Living Comparison Between Cook Islands and Fiji

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Cook Islands versus $504 in Fiji.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,682 in Cook Islands versus $858 in Fiji.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,260 in Cook Islands versus $1,212 in Fiji.

Living in Cook Islands is roughly 119% more expensive than Fiji on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Cook Islands 18% lower, Fiji 62% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Fiji: monthly costs span $0 to $1,066, compared to $850–$1,355 in Cook Islands. City choice carries more weight in Fiji.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.08 NZ$20.66
$4.33 FJD 9.62
178.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 NZ$104
$44.25 FJD 98.2
37.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 NZ$15.51
$6.93 FJD 15.38
30.88%
Cappuccino
$4.17 NZ$7.13
$2.98 FJD 6.61
39.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 NZ$4.26
$1.29 FJD 2.86
93.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$4.05
$0.95 FJD 2.12
149.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 NZ$11.44
$2.72 FJD 6.04
145.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 NZ$9.05
$3.56 FJD 7.91
48.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 NZ$3.70
$1.33 FJD 2.96
63.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 NZ$5.34
$0.57 FJD 1.26
447.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 NZ$2.86
$1.05 FJD 2.34
59.05%
Eggs
$5.67 NZ$9.70
$3.26 FJD 7.24
73.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.78 NZ$16.72
$8.45 FJD 18.76
15.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.68 NZ$13.13
$7.63 FJD 16.93
0.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 NZ$15.21
$7.59 FJD 16.85
17.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 NZ$5.03
$2.55 FJD 5.67
15.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 NZ$4.14
$2.58 FJD 5.73
-6.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.62 NZ$6.18
$3.16 FJD 7.02
14.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.40 NZ$10.95
$2.66 FJD 5.91
140.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 NZ$4.08
$1.42 FJD 3.16
67.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 NZ$3.29
$1.19 FJD 2.65
61.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 NZ$3.71
$1.06 FJD 2.36
104.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 NZ$5.58
$0.82 FJD 1.82
297.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.29 NZ$26.14
$9.60 FJD 21.31
59.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.21 NZ$22.58
$8.26 FJD 18.34
59.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 NZ$6.04
$2.21 FJD 4.91
59.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 NZ$8.42
$3.38 FJD 7.49
45.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 NZ$5.28
$0.73 FJD 1.62
323.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.38 FJD 49.68
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$21.22 NZ$36.29
$0.91 FJD 2.02
2231.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.42 FJD 0.93
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.64 NZ$62.7
$4.83 FJD 10.72
658.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 NZ$3.00
$1.35 FJD 3.01
30.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.0K NZ$20.5K
$23.4K FJD 52.0K
-48.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.8K FJD 50.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 NZ$179
$54.4 FJD 121
92.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.92 NZ$51.2
$13.62 FJD 30.23
119.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106 NZ$181
$22.70 FJD 50.4
365.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.82 NZ$42.44
$31.77 FJD 70.5
-21.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.94 NZ$40.94
$6.76 FJD 15.02
254.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 NZ$11.96
$4.38 FJD 9.72
59.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$173 FJD 383
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,443 NZ$2,467
$11.8K FJD 26.2K
-87.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 NZ$114
$25.30 FJD 56.2
163.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$30.49 FJD 67.7
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$67.1 FJD 149
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 NZ$129
$72.5 FJD 161
4.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 NZ$537
$615 FJD 1,365
-48.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 NZ$549
$342 FJD 758
-5.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 NZ$605
$1,554 FJD 3,449
-77.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 NZ$812
$934 FJD 2,073
-49.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,153 NZ$8,812
$1,253 FJD 2,782
311.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$751 NZ$1,284
$815 FJD 1,810
-7.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,164 NZ$7,120
$860 FJD 1,909
384.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
6.5
23.08%

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

Last update for Cook Islands: April 21, 2026

Last update for Fiji: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $323 in Cook Islands, $279 in Fiji. Capital cities: $156 in Avarua vs $603 in Suva.

National salary averages: $4,055 in Cook Islands, $728 in Fiji. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 16% higher in Cook Islands.

Dining out costs 127% more in Cook Islands.

Salaries are 457% higher in Cook Islands, giving Cook Islands stronger purchasing power.

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
Cook Islands vs Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Cook Islands or Fiji?
At $1,103 per month in Cook Islands and $533 in Fiji, there's a 107% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Cook Islands or Fiji?
Fiji is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Cook Islands and Fiji?
Rent in Cook Islands beats Fiji across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,500 go in Cook Islands vs Fiji?
In Fiji, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Cook Islands, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Cook Islands and Fiji?
It depends on what you're after. Fiji wins on affordability; Cook Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Cook Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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