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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Cook Islands versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,682 in Cook Islands versus $2,623 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,260 in Cook Islands versus $3,527 in Italy.

Living in Cook Islands costs about 36% less than in Italy on average.

Cook Islands (18% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $850โ€“$1,355 in Cook Islands. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.08 NZ$20.66
$17.20 โ‚ฌ14.71
-29.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 NZ$104
$81.2 โ‚ฌ69.4
-25.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 NZ$15.51
$11.40 โ‚ฌ9.75
-20.44%
Cappuccino
$4.17 NZ$7.13
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.63
118.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 NZ$4.26
$2.86 โ‚ฌ2.45
-12.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$4.05
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.13
78.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 NZ$11.44
$5.89 โ‚ฌ5.04
13.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 NZ$9.05
$5.12 โ‚ฌ4.38
3.32%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 NZ$3.70
$1.64 โ‚ฌ1.40
32.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 NZ$5.34
$2.30 โ‚ฌ1.96
35.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 NZ$2.86
$3.03 โ‚ฌ2.59
-44.88%
Eggs
$5.67 NZ$9.70
$4.09 โ‚ฌ3.50
38.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.78 NZ$16.72
$16.26 โ‚ฌ13.90
-39.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.68 NZ$13.13
$12.24 โ‚ฌ10.47
-37.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 NZ$15.21
$20.45 โ‚ฌ17.48
-56.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 NZ$5.03
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.18
15.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 NZ$4.14
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.82
14.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.62 NZ$6.18
$2.68 โ‚ฌ2.30
35.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.40 NZ$10.95
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.89
89.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 NZ$4.08
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.71
19.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 NZ$3.29
$1.88 โ‚ฌ1.60
2.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 NZ$3.71
$1.47 โ‚ฌ1.26
47.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 NZ$5.58
$0.54 โ‚ฌ0.46
503.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.29 NZ$26.14
$6.75 โ‚ฌ5.77
126.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.21 NZ$22.58
$7.18 โ‚ฌ6.14
83.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 NZ$6.04
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.54
96.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 NZ$8.42
$2.45 โ‚ฌ2.09
100.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 NZ$5.28
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.73
52.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.49 โ‚ฌ35.47
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$21.22 NZ$36.29
$5.77 โ‚ฌ4.93
267.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.53 โ‚ฌ1.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.64 NZ$62.7
$35.33 โ‚ฌ30.21
3.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 NZ$3.00
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.81
-16.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.0K NZ$20.5K
$32.3K โ‚ฌ27.6K
-62.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.4K โ‚ฌ28.6K
-
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 NZ$179
$224 โ‚ฌ191
-53.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.92 NZ$51.2
$13.24 โ‚ฌ11.32
125.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106 NZ$181
$30.96 โ‚ฌ26.47
241.57%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.82 NZ$42.44
$56.6 โ‚ฌ48.41
-56.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.94 NZ$40.94
$25.11 โ‚ฌ21.47
-4.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 NZ$11.96
$10.32 โ‚ฌ8.83
-32.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$563 โ‚ฌ482
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,443 NZ$2,467
$10.6K โ‚ฌ9,084
-86.42%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 NZ$114
$90.1 โ‚ฌ77.1
-25.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.60 โ‚ฌ34.71
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$100 โ‚ฌ85.6
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 NZ$129
$133 โ‚ฌ113
-43.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 NZ$537
$864 โ‚ฌ739
-63.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 NZ$549
$668 โ‚ฌ571
-51.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 NZ$605
$1,473 โ‚ฌ1,260
-75.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 NZ$812
$1,088 โ‚ฌ930
-56.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,153 NZ$8,812
$3,808 โ‚ฌ3,256
35.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$751 NZ$1,284
$2,454 โ‚ฌ2,098
-69.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cook Islands
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,164 NZ$7,120
$1,935 โ‚ฌ1,655
115.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
4.41
81.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cook Islands: April 21, 2026

Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $323 in Cook Islands, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $156 in Avarua vs $1,366 in Rome.

National salary averages: $4,055 in Cook Islands, $1,935 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ€“ weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 130% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 25% more in Italy.

Salaries are 110% 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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Cook Islands or Italy?
At $1,103 per month in Cook Islands and $1,863 in Italy, there's a 69% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ€“ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Cook Islands or Italy?
Cook Islands 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 Italy?
Rent in Italy beats Cook Islands 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 $2,000 go in Cook Islands vs Italy?
In Cook Islands, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ€“ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Cook Islands and Italy?
It depends on what you're after. Cook Islands wins on affordability; Italy 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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