Moving to Cook Islands from China

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from China to Cook Islands — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from China to Cook Islands, and you’d need to navigate life in Cook Islands Māori and English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How China and Cook Islands stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
CK
3.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
CK
17.6

China performs better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
CK
13.4
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

CN
81
CK
46

China performs better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
41.4
CK
18.2

China performs better than Cook Islands across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
CK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
CK
$15,600

China performs better than Cook Islands across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
CK
77.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
CK
15.9

Cook Islands generally does better on family life, though China leads in infant mortality.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and Cook Islands. To live, work, or study long-term in Cook Islands, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cook Islands's immigration authority.

China passport

China passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
China passport holders can enter Cook Islands without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Cook Islands?

With 18.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Cook Islands can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in China and Cook Islands.

Is Cook Islands safe for expats?

China performs better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cook Islands is 3.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.

How is healthcare in Cook Islands compared to China?

China performs better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 13.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cook Islands, compared to 25.2 in China. Cook Islands scores 46 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

What language do they speak in Cook Islands?

The official languages in Cook Islands are Cook Islands Māori and English. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN CK
Population 1,410,539,758 8,128
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Chinese Cook Islands Māori, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +86 +682
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110