I found really affordable flights from Auckland to the Cook Islands and had to jump on the opportunity. Before I really had time to consider a budget, I’d snagged the tickets. The Cook Islands isn’t particularly affordable, but there are some ways to keep the costs down! The best way is to stay in Rarotonga rather than going to Aitutaki. I stayed in Rarotonga for 10 days and still had an amazing time. Here’s a cost breakdown of what I spent and how you can enjoy Rarotonga on a budget.
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Cost of flights to Rarotonga
The best way to get to the Cook Islands is from Auckland, New Zealand, or Sydney, Australia. Otherwise, if you’re doing a little island hopping, you can fly direct from Honolulu or Tahiti (French Polynesia).
- From Auckland with Jetstar: about 500 NZD return
- From Auckland with Air New Zealand: about 750 NZD return
- From Sydney with Jetstar: about 600 NZD return
- From Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines: about 1,200 NZD return
- From Papeete (Tahiti) with Air Rarotonga: about 1,000 NZD return
*NZD is the local currency of the Cook Islands. Click or tap the green boxes above to see some international conversion rates.
Air Rarotonga also operates flights to Aitutaki, in the northern group of the Cook Islands. But they cost about 300 NZD … one way!
So if you can afford it, you absolutely have to go to Aitutaki. But if you’re on a mega budget (probably why you’re reading this) then saving Aitutaki for next time is the easiest way to cut out an unnecessary expense.
Budget accommodation in Rarotonga
Accommodation was my biggest expense on my whole trip to Rarotonga. However, I also opted not to stay in a hostel dorm which could have cut my costs down significantly. (I am 34 years old and feel like a grandma in a dorm room.)
Accommodation in Rarotonga on a budget
There aren’t many budget options in Raro. And Rarotonga Backpackers is the only real option if you’re on a tight budget. I stayed here for half of my trip and splurged on a beach hut — it was great! Def a little basic and rough around the edges, but totally did the trick and had everything I needed.
- Hostel dorm bed: 45 NZD
- Single room: 58 NZD
- Beach hut: 125 NZD
- Beachfront studio: 265 NZD (sleeps 4)
There are more room options at Rarotonga Backpackers with current prices found here.
Mid range accommodation in Rarotonga on a budget
These are more expensive than a hostel dorm but still remain affordable compared to Raro’s resorts. Here are some great Rarotonga accommodations under 200 NZD.
- Muri Beach Resort: This is where I stayed for half the time. Pristine clean, quiet self-service apartment with everything you need. I loved the pool, laundry, and full kitchen. And it’s just a 10-minute walk to Muri Beach and the night markets. (Book the Kaute apartment for the best views!)
- Sharnytas Studio: Air-conditioned (which is rare in Rarotonga) and they offer a free shuttle to/from the airport. It’s also walkable to all the hotspots in Avarua — the busiest part of the island.
- Kiikii Inn & Suites: Right on the beach, plus the pool and free Wi-Fi are a highlight. It’s not what I’d consider walkable to Avarua, but it would be easy to hop on the bus!
And I would like to draw your attention once again to the beach huts and studios at Rarotonga Backpackers. Aside from these few options I’ve highlighted, most accom is $200+ per night.
Getting around Rarotonga on a budget
Getting around the island is super easy. There’s one ring road around the whole thing. So even if you’re bad with direction like me, it’s hard to get lost!
Hitchhike
People are so friendly in the Cook Islands that I didn’t even try to hitchhike. If I was waiting for the bus, someone would just pull over and ask if I wanted a ride!
I rarely relied on it (except on Sundays when the buses don’t run as often) but it certainly made getting from Point A to Point B more efficient and saved me a ton of money on bus fare.
Always go with your gut and don’t get in the car if it doesn’t feel safe. But I never had any issues and it was actually a really nice way to meet locals. One lady gave me some homemade food she was bringing back from her mom’s house lol.
Catch the bus
There are two buses: clockwise and anti-clockwise. Each does a full rotation every hour. A single ride costs 5 NZD, or you can ask for a “10-click ticket” for 35 NZD. You can also share the multi-ride ticket between people.
Download the TransportMe app to track where the buses are in real-time!
Hop on a bicycle
You can usually rent bikes from your accommodation — some even offer them for free with your stay. Alternatively, there are lots of rental shops in Avarua and Muri. Daily pedal bike rentals cost around 20 NZD per day, while e-bikes are more expensive at 50 NZD per day. You can often get a discount for longer-term rentals.
Rent a scooter or car
Renting a car or scooter is significantly more expensive than relying on the bus. But it’s still nice to have flexibility and be in charge of your own time. (I spent a lot of time standing on the side of the road waiting for the bus.)
- Scooter per day: around 25 NZD
- Scooter per week: around 150 NZD
- Car per day: around 70 NZD
- Car per week: around 350 NZD
- Petrol: hovers around 3 NZD per litre
Read more: How to Have Fun in Rarotonga on a Rainy Day
Eating and drinking in Rarotonga on a budget
Food, drinks, and groceries cost about the same as they do in New Zealand. Groceries are still the best way to keep costs down. The backpacker’s has a pretty good kitchen, as do the affordable apartment style studios.
There are also some cheap eats you can find! Punanga Nui Night Markets are fun, but most dishes are still $20+. Rima’s Bakery Cafe in Muri served me the biggest portion of curry I’ve ever had in my life. Make sure you try ika mata (raw fish, citrus, and coconut milk) at some point on your trip! Some cheap eats to try in Rarotonga on a budget:
- The Pacific Fish & Chips Shop
- Falafel Shack
- Vibe Fish Van
- Vili’s Burger Joint (some under $5)
- Palace Takeaways ($3.50 burger special some nights)
Things to do in Rarotonga on a budget
The activities will be a significant expense, but you can balance the big ticket things with some free things to do in Rarotonga.
Free or low-cost experiences include hiking The Needle, swimming, and snorkeling off the beach. Even if you don’t have your own snorkel gear, you can usually rent it from your accom for around 10 NZD per day.
Then there are some experiences worth spending your hard-earned travel dollars on. Swimming with turtles is an absolute must. There’s even a sea scooter snorkeling version if you want to try something different.
And the mud buggies look like so much fun but I never got around to it. The Te Ara Museum and Discover Marine Wildlife Centre are each 15 NZD and worth it to learn more about Raro and the Cook Islands.
There are a few activities you can safely skip if you’re traveling Rarotonga on a budget. I regret doing the Koka Lagoon Cruise (Captain Tama’s is the same thing). However, I did go on a rainy day so I’m sure that contributed to the lacklustre experience. But it was over 100 NZD and just like… kinda tacky. Not a must-do.
Read more: Map of the Best Activities in Rarotonga
Total daily budget
If you’re a solo backpacker traveling from Auckland and exploring Rarotonga on a budget, you can expect to spend around 1,200 NZD for a week.
- 450 NZD Jetstar flights return from Auckland
- 315 NZD budget dorm bed
- 150 NZD food, with some meals cooked at your accom
- 150 NZD on must-do activities
- 35 NZD only taking the bus and hitchiking for transport
- 50 NZD misc. coffees, snacks, etc.
- $0 no SIM, only relying on free Wi-Fi
If you’re a couple traveling from Australia to Rarotonga on a mid-range budget, you’ll spend around 3,000 NZD total for a week ($1500 per person).
- 1,200 NZD return Jetstar flights from Sydney
- 875 NZD for a week in a Rarotonga Backpackers Beach Hut
- 300 NZD on food, with some meals cooked at your accommodation
- 300 NZD on must-do activities
- 180 NZD scooter for a week
- 25 NZD petrol
- 80 NZD airport shuttle to/from airport
- 100 NZD misc. coffees, snacks, etc.
- 50 NZD one phone with an eSIM for Wi-Fi all over the island
If you’re a solo flashpacker traveling from New Zealand to Rarotonga on a higher-end budget, you could easily spend around 4,000 NZD across a week.
- 800 NZD return Air New Zealand flights from Auckland
- 1,300 NZD for a week at the Muri Beach Resort
- 500 NZD on food, with most meals out and one or two splurge meals (check out Antipodes)
- 500 NZD on top activities including swimming with turtles, mud buggies, and cultural tours
- 350 NZD car for a week
- 50 NZD petrol
- 50 NZD airport shuttle to/from airport
- 250 NZD misc. coffees, snacks, a black pearl etc.
- 50 NZD eSIM for internet access all over the island
My total spending in Rarotonga
Here’s a breakdown of exactly what I spent over my 10-day trip to Rarotonga. I’m a bit of a mid-range budget traveler these days. I don’t like to miss out on anything, but I like the challenge of keeping the budget low.
For example, I could have rented a scooter, but always opted for the bus. I also value my Wi-Fi, so I shelled out for an eSIM, which is arguably not necessary. And one huge factor in my budget was that I stayed in nicer accommodation. But it was my birthday trip!
I spent 2,985 NZD for 10 days, 9 nights in Rarotonga.
TravelSpend is my go-to travel budget app — I use it for everything. And it keeps me realistic about what I’m spending haha. It’s super easy to log everything, and I live for the pie chart.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
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