🙂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: Fiji63% lower, Cook Islands17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42FJD 9.81
$12.23NZ$21.06
-63.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.59FJD 96.7
$59.8NZ$103
-27.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.15FJD 15.85
$9.28NZ$15.97
-22.95%
Cappuccino
$2.91FJD 6.45
$4.13NZ$7.11
-29.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32FJD 2.92
$2.53NZ$4.35
-47.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90FJD 2.00
$2.34NZ$4.03
-61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73FJD 6.05
$6.56NZ$11.30
-58.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50FJD 7.76
$5.38NZ$9.26
-34.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35FJD 3.00
$2.13NZ$3.67
-36.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59FJD 1.32
$3.12NZ$5.37
-81.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06FJD 2.36
$1.61NZ$2.77
-34.16%
Eggs
$3.33FJD 7.38
$5.87NZ$10.11
-43.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.27FJD 18.34
$9.80NZ$16.86
-15.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.89FJD 17.51
$8.03NZ$13.82
-1.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.68FJD 17.03
$9.09NZ$15.65
-15.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.52FJD 5.60
$3.07NZ$5.29
-17.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61FJD 5.78
$2.38NZ$4.10
9.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17FJD 7.04
$3.52NZ$6.05
-9.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77FJD 6.14
$6.15NZ$10.60
-54.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43FJD 3.17
$2.37NZ$4.08
-39.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19FJD 2.63
$1.95NZ$3.36
-38.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07FJD 2.36
$2.14NZ$3.68
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87FJD 1.93
$3.38NZ$5.82
-74.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.64FJD 21.37
$14.85NZ$25.57
-35.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.19FJD 18.17
$13.18NZ$22.70
-37.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18FJD 4.84
$3.55NZ$6.12
-38.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25FJD 7.20
$4.89NZ$8.42
-33.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69FJD 1.54
$2.97NZ$5.12
-76.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.88FJD 48.52
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87FJD 1.93
$21.13NZ$36.38
-95.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42FJD 0.92
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.91FJD 10.89
$36.05NZ$62.1
-86.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29FJD 2.86
$1.76NZ$3.03
-26.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KFJD 51.6K
$12.1KNZ$20.8K
92.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KFJD 51.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.5FJD 119
$104NZ$179
-48.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25FJD 29.38
$30.16NZ$51.9
-56.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.38FJD 51.8
$105NZ$180
-77.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.33FJD 69.5
$24.69NZ$42.51
26.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64FJD 14.73
$24.18NZ$41.63
-72.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.58FJD 10.15
$6.80NZ$11.71
-32.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172FJD 382
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KFJD 25.4K
$1,453NZ$2,501
689.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.45FJD 56.4
$67.3NZ$116
-62.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.91FJD 66.3
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2FJD 149
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1FJD 162
$74.5NZ$128
-1.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$625FJD 1,385
$321NZ$553
94.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331FJD 735
$313NZ$540
5.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607FJD 3,564
$360NZ$619
346.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$955FJD 2,118
$469NZ$807
103.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,245FJD 2,761
$4,970NZ$8,557
-74.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$833FJD 1,847
$724NZ$1,246
15.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Cook Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$890FJD 1,975
$4,039NZ$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.