Travel budget and cost of living in Cook islands how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to Cook islands and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in Cook islands. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your Cook islands travel budget.
Travel budget in Cook islands
Cook islands: calculate your travel budget
Cook islands: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Cook islands for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 94 for 2 ppl.
- $ 19 per person
- $ 13 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 2178* (3626 NZ$)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 124 for 2 ppl.
- $ 36 per person
- $ 9.2 per person
- $ 7 per person
Total budget:
$ 3174* (5292 NZ$)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 194 for 2 ppl.
- $ 61 per person
- $ 6.1 per person
- $ 15 per person
Total budget:
$ 4974* (8274 NZ$)
* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).
Cost of living in Cook islands in 2025
Cost of living: Cook islands VS United States
On average, the cost of living in Cook islands in 2025 is 6% less than in the United States (USA).
The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Local prices in Cook islands by expense type
Cook islands: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Cook islands costs 9% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 9.2/person
($ 6.1 to $ 13)
($ 6.1 to $ 13)
57% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223 course dinner
$ 32/person
($ 25 to $ 49)
($ 25 to $ 49)
25% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42McDonald's meal
$ 9.2/person
($ 9.2 to $ 9.2)
($ 9.2 to $ 9.2)
23% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Local beer
$ 5.4 for 500ml
($ 3.6 to $ 10.5)
($ 3.6 to $ 10.5)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.6Imported beer
$ 5.1 for 330ml
($ 4.6 to $ 5.5)
($ 4.6 to $ 5.5)
31% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9Cappuccino
$ 4.5/cup
($ 3.1 to $ 5.9)
($ 3.1 to $ 5.9)
22% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7Fizzy drink
$ 3.4/can
($ 2.5 to $ 5.3)
($ 2.5 to $ 5.3)
23% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Water bottle
$ 2.7/bottle
($ 1.9 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.9 to $ 3.6)
19% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3Cook islands: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Cook islands costs 31% less than in the United States (USA).
2-star hotel
$ 94/night
( $ 94)
( $ 94)
44% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1683-star hotel
$ 153/night
( $ 153)
( $ 153)
38% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2484-star hotel
$ 235/night
( $ 235)
( $ 235)
32% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3495-star hotel
$ 506/night
( $ 506)
( $ 506)
11% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 570Cook islands: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in Cook islands is 9% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 2.1/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 3.1)
($ 1.5 to $ 3.1)
87% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.2Bread
$ 6.5/500g
($ 5.9 to $ 7.3)
($ 5.9 to $ 7.3)
64% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9Rice
$ 1.6/kg
($ 1.5 to $ 1.9)
($ 1.5 to $ 1.9)
66% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5Eggs
$ 6/12 eggs
($ 5.3 to $ 6.7)
($ 5.3 to $ 6.7)
46% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.1Chicken
$ 8/kg
($ 7.4 to $ 8.6)
($ 7.4 to $ 8.6)
39% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Apples
$ 3.1/kg
($ 3.1 to $ 3.1)
($ 3.1 to $ 3.1)
47% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.8Tomatoes
$ 6.5/kg
($ 3.1 to $ 9.9)
($ 3.1 to $ 9.9)
21% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4Potatoes
$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 3.1)
($ 1.9 to $ 3.1)
24% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2Water bottle
$ 3.4
($ 3.1 to $ 3.6)
($ 3.1 to $ 3.6)
41% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4Cook islands: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in Cook islands is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 3.1/ticket
($ 3.1 to $ 3.1)
($ 3.1 to $ 3.1)
13% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7Petrol
$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.9 to $ 1.9)
($ 1.9 to $ 1.9)
77% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Car hire
$ 16/24hrs
($ 12 to $ 20)
($ 12 to $ 20)
81% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 82Cook islands: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in Cook islands costs 23% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 7/ticket
( $ 7)
( $ 7)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16Tennis
$ 25/hr
( $ 25)
( $ 25)
7% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24Cook islands: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in Cook islands is 14% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 16/pack
($ 13 to $ 19)
($ 13 to $ 19)
41% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11Levi's jeans
$ 70
( $ 70)
( $ 70)
20% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58Summer dress
$ 39
( $ 39)
( $ 39)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47Plane ticket budget
Auckland → Rarotonga island
$ 620
(fair price: $ 483)
(fair price: $ 483)
Sydney → Rarotonga island
$ 856
(fair price: $ 694)
(fair price: $ 694)
Melbourne → Rarotonga island
$ 987
(fair price: $ 807)
(fair price: $ 807)
London → Rarotonga island
$ 2648
(fair price: $ 2151)
(fair price: $ 2151)
Los Angeles → Rarotonga island
$ 2074
(fair price: $ 1684)
(fair price: $ 1684)
About the information on the cost of living in Cook islands
The information about the cost of living in Cook islands shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in Cook islands updated on 30-04-2025.