Rarotonga on a Budget: How to Save Money in Paradise

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: $440 to $550 return
From Auckland with Air New Zealand: $640 to $800 return
From Sydney with Jetstar: $570 to $660 return
From Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines: $1,150 return
From Papeete (Tahiti) with Air Rarotonga: $1,000 return

*All prices are in NZD, the local currency of the Cook Islands.

Air Rarotonga also operates flights to Aitutaki, in the northern group of the Cook Islands. But they cost about $260 to $300… 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

This 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.

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.

Rarotonga Backpackers

Hostel dorm bed: $40
Single room: $55
Beach hut: $120
4-person beachfront studio: $250

There are more room options at Rarotonga Backpackers with prices found here.

Rarotonga Backpackers Beach Hut

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.

Muri Retreat Apartments: 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, or you can ask for a “10-click ticket” for $35 — making each ride just $3.50. 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 per day, while e-bikes are more expensive at $50 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: $20-25
Scooter per week: $160
Car per day: $60-70
Car per week: $350
Petrol: about $3 per litre

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)

Ika mata

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 $5-10 bucks 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 both $15 each and worth it to learn more about Raro.

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 bucks and just like… I dunno kinda tacky. Not a must-do.

Total daily budget

If you’re a solo backpacker traveling from Auckland and exploring Rarotonga on a shoestring budget, you can expect to spend around $1,000 for a week.

$440 Jetstar flights return from Auckland
$210 budget dorm bed
$150 food, with some meals cooked at your accom
$150 on must-do activities
$50 only taking the bus and hitchiking for transport
$50 misc. coffees, snacks, etc.
$0 no eSIM, only relying on free Wi-Fi

If you’re a couple traveling from Australia to Rarotonga on a budget, you’ll spend around $3,00 total for a week ($1,500 per person).

$1200 return Jetstar flights from Sydney
$840 for a week in a Rarotonga Backpackers Beach Hut
$300 on food, with some meals cooked at your accommodation
$300 on must-do activities
$160 scooter for a week
$25 petrol
$80 airport shuttle to/from airport
$100 misc. coffees, snacks, etc.
$50 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 backpacker budget, you’ll spend around $3,900 over a week.

$800 return Air New Zealand flights from Auckland
$1300 for a week at the Muri Retreat Apartments
$500 on food, with most meals out and one or two splurge meals (check out Antipodes)
$500 on top activities including swimming with turtles, mud buggies, and cultural tours
$350 car for a week
$50 petrol
$50 airport shuttle to/from airport
$250 misc. coffees, snacks, a black pearl etc.
$50 eSIM for Wi-Fi 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 higher-end accommodation. But it was my birthday trip!

$3,000 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.