😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Cook Islands versus $400 in Fiji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,663 in Cook Islands versus $674 in Fiji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cook Islands versus $947 in Fiji.
🌍Living in Cook Islands is roughly 258% more expensive than in Fiji on average.
📊Cook Islands (4% above) and Fiji (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87NZ$20.41
$5.37FJD 11.77
121.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9NZ$103
$40.74FJD 89.3
47.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48NZ$12.87
$7.41FJD 16.23
0.94%
Cappuccino
$3.44NZ$5.91
$3.15FJD 6.90
9.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46NZ$4.23
$1.51FJD 3.32
62.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51NZ$4.32
$0.99FJD 2.17
153.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84NZ$10.04
$3.27FJD 7.17
78.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15NZ$8.85
$4.21FJD 9.22
22.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31NZ$3.96
$1.38FJD 3.02
67.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17NZ$5.45
$0.67FJD 1.48
373.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79NZ$3.08
$1.10FJD 2.42
62.73%
Eggs
$5.55NZ$9.54
$3.49FJD 7.64
59.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.65NZ$16.60
$9.64FJD 21.11
0.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26NZ$14.21
$9.40FJD 20.60
-12.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51NZ$18.07
$8.47FJD 18.55
24.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88NZ$4.95
$2.71FJD 5.94
6.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80NZ$3.09
$2.74FJD 5.99
-34.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60NZ$6.19
$3.37FJD 7.38
6.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.51NZ$16.35
$2.93FJD 6.42
224.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97NZ$5.11
$1.31FJD 2.88
126.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37NZ$4.07
$1.23FJD 2.70
92.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30NZ$3.95
$1.02FJD 2.23
125.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.97NZ$5.10
$0.79FJD 1.73
275.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.84NZ$20.35
$9.92FJD 21.74
19.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.35NZ$22.95
$8.20FJD 17.97
62.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58NZ$6.15
$2.32FJD 5.08
54.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82NZ$8.29
$3.86FJD 8.47
24.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01NZ$5.17
$0.83FJD 1.82
262.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.62FJD 49.55
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$20.68NZ$35.55
$0.87FJD 1.90
2277.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.44FJD 0.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.68NZ$59.6
$7.13FJD 15.62
386.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03NZ$3.50
$1.36FJD 2.97
49.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.9KNZ$20.5K
$24.9KFJD 54.5K
-52.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4KFJD 57.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108NZ$186
$57.1FJD 125
89.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.0NZ$86.0
$14.66FJD 32.11
241.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106NZ$183
$21.70FJD 47.55
389.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$36.73FJD 80.5
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.58FJD 16.62
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.85FJD 8.44
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$198FJD 435
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,416NZ$2,434
$13.8KFJD 30.2K
-89.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$28.20FJD 61.8
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.18FJD 77.1
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$69.0FJD 151
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$63.8FJD 140
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744NZ$1,279
$953FJD 2,089
-21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$729NZ$1,253
$416FJD 911
75.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407NZ$700
$2,075FJD 4,547
-80.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$649NZ$1,116
$929FJD 2,034
-30.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,242FJD 2,720
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$990NZ$1,702
$818FJD 1,791
21.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cook Islands
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,119NZ$7,083
$881FJD 1,930
367.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
6.44
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cook Islands: September 6, 2026
Last update for Fiji: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Cook Islands, $356 in Fiji. Capital cities: $1,012 in Avarua vs $925 in Suva.
💰National salary averages: $4,121 in Cook Islands, $751 in Fiji. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 109% higher in Cook Islands.
⭐Dining out costs 128% more in Cook Islands.
⭐Salaries are 449% higher in Cook Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Cook Islands.
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 $1,430 per month in Cook Islands and $713 in Fiji, there's a 101% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Fiji: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 compared to Fiji?
In Fiji, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Cook Islands it stretches only to regional areas and 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 in 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