Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rarotonga and Avarua

For one person, living is cheaper in Rarotonga: $1,117 a month against $1,161 in Avarua, rent and utilities included – about $530 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Avarua outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Jump to prices

Rarotonga

🇨🇰 Cook Islands

$1,117

/mo nomad

Avarua

🇨🇰 Cook Islands

$1,161

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rarotonga and in Avarua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rarotonga and in Avarua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,117 per month in Rarotonga vs $1,161 in Avarua, rent included.

Rarotonga $1,117
Avarua $1,161

A couple spends around $1,580 per month in Rarotonga vs $781 in Avarua, rent included.

Rarotonga $1,580
Avarua $781

A family of three spends $2,044 per month in Rarotonga vs $401 in Avarua, rent included.

Rarotonga $2,044
Avarua $401

Rarotonga is about 4% cheaper than Avarua.

Both Rarotonga and Avarua are more affordable than the global median – Rarotonga 17% lower, Avarua 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.17 NZ$25.16

$11.41 NZ$20.26

24.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 NZ$92.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 NZ$10.14

Cappuccino

$3.51 NZ$6.23

$2.75 NZ$4.89

27.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 NZ$3.93

$2.16 NZ$3.84

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 NZ$4.11

$2.79 NZ$4.95

-17.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 NZ$8.82

$6.93 NZ$12.30

-28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 NZ$9.18

$3.89 NZ$6.91

32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.77 NZ$4.92

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 NZ$4.95

Eggs

$6.29 NZ$11.16

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 NZ$13.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.42 NZ$20.27

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 NZ$19.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 NZ$5.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 NZ$9.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 NZ$4.99

$2.86 NZ$5.07

-1.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$19.77 NZ$35.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.02 NZ$60.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 NZ$3.10

$2.14 NZ$3.81

-18.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$11.4K NZ$20.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$100 NZ$178

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.44 NZ$84.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 NZ$183

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 NZ$816

$971 NZ$1,725

-52.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 NZ$811

$963 NZ$1,710

-52.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 NZ$1,211

$111 NZ$197

516.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 NZ$1,120

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$944 NZ$1,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,929 NZ$6,975

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

Last update for Rarotonga: November 1, 2026

Last update for Avarua: November 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Rarotonga versus $971 in Avarua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know

🇨🇰 Rarotonga

🇨🇰 Avarua

🕒 Local time

09:48 9:48 AM

Same time as Rarotonga

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,373

5,000 Capital

💱 Currency

New Zealand Dollar NZD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 NZD = 0.563 USD

1 NZD = 0.502 EUR

1 NZD = 0.563 USD

1 NZD = 0.502 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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

Rarotonga vs Avarua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,675 per month in Rarotonga and $1,742 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rarotonga, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $460 there versus $971 in Avarua.

$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,117 in Rarotonga and $1,161 in Avarua. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.