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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $499 in Fiji versus $1,111 in Cook Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Fiji versus $1,703 in Cook Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,207 in Fiji versus $2,295 in Cook Islands.

Living in Fiji costs about 55% less than in Cook Islands on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Fiji 63% lower, Cook Islands 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 FJD 9.81
$12.23 NZ$21.06
-63.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.59 FJD 96.7
$59.8 NZ$103
-27.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.15 FJD 15.85
$9.28 NZ$15.97
-22.95%
Cappuccino
$2.91 FJD 6.45
$4.13 NZ$7.11
-29.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 FJD 2.92
$2.53 NZ$4.35
-47.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 FJD 2.00
$2.34 NZ$4.03
-61.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 FJD 6.05
$6.56 NZ$11.30
-58.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 FJD 7.76
$5.38 NZ$9.26
-34.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 FJD 3.00
$2.13 NZ$3.67
-36.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 FJD 1.32
$3.12 NZ$5.37
-81.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 FJD 2.36
$1.61 NZ$2.77
-34.16%
Eggs
$3.33 FJD 7.38
$5.87 NZ$10.11
-43.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.27 FJD 18.34
$9.80 NZ$16.86
-15.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 FJD 17.51
$8.03 NZ$13.82
-1.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.68 FJD 17.03
$9.09 NZ$15.65
-15.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 FJD 5.60
$3.07 NZ$5.29
-17.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 FJD 5.78
$2.38 NZ$4.10
9.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 FJD 7.04
$3.52 NZ$6.05
-9.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 FJD 6.14
$6.15 NZ$10.60
-54.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 FJD 3.17
$2.37 NZ$4.08
-39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 FJD 2.63
$1.95 NZ$3.36
-38.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 FJD 2.36
$2.14 NZ$3.68
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 FJD 1.93
$3.38 NZ$5.82
-74.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.64 FJD 21.37
$14.85 NZ$25.57
-35.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.19 FJD 18.17
$13.18 NZ$22.70
-37.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 FJD 4.84
$3.55 NZ$6.12
-38.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 FJD 7.20
$4.89 NZ$8.42
-33.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 FJD 1.54
$2.97 NZ$5.12
-76.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.88 FJD 48.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 FJD 1.93
$21.13 NZ$36.38
-95.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FJD 0.92
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 FJD 10.89
$36.05 NZ$62.1
-86.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.86
$1.76 NZ$3.03
-26.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K FJD 51.6K
$12.1K NZ$20.8K
92.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K FJD 51.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.5 FJD 119
$104 NZ$179
-48.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 FJD 29.38
$30.16 NZ$51.9
-56.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.38 FJD 51.8
$105 NZ$180
-77.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.33 FJD 69.5
$24.69 NZ$42.51
26.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 FJD 14.73
$24.18 NZ$41.63
-72.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.58 FJD 10.15
$6.80 NZ$11.71
-32.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 FJD 382
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K FJD 25.4K
$1,453 NZ$2,501
689.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.45 FJD 56.4
$67.3 NZ$116
-62.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.91 FJD 66.3
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 FJD 149
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 FJD 162
$74.5 NZ$128
-1.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$625 FJD 1,385
$321 NZ$553
94.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 FJD 735
$313 NZ$540
5.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 FJD 3,564
$360 NZ$619
346.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 FJD 2,118
$469 NZ$807
103.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,245 FJD 2,761
$4,970 NZ$8,557
-74.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$833 FJD 1,847
$724 NZ$1,246
15.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$890 FJD 1,975
$4,039 NZ$6,954
-77.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
8
-18.75%

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

Last update for Fiji: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cook Islands: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $277 in Fiji, $319 in Cook Islands. Capital cities: $585 in Suva vs $154 in Avarua.

National salary averages: $737 in Fiji, $4,018 in Cook Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 15% higher in Cook Islands.

Dining out costs 131% more in Cook Islands.

Salaries are 445% 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
Fiji vs Cook Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Cook Islands or Fiji?
At $1,111 per month in Cook Islands and $532 in Fiji, there's a 109% 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.

Fiji vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries