Moving to Cook Islands from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Cook Islands, and you’d need to navigate life in Cook Islands Māori and English.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
CK
3.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
CK
17.6

Japan performs better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
CK
13.4
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

JP
83
CK
46

Japan 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

JP
37.2
CK
18.2

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
CK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
CK
$15,600

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
CK
77.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
CK
15.9

Japan generally does better on family life, though Cook Islands leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Japan 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 Japan and Cook Islands.

Is Cook Islands safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cook Islands is 3.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Cook Islands compared to Japan?

Japan performs better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 13.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cook Islands, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Cook Islands scores 46 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What language do they speak in Cook Islands?

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

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At a Glance

JP CK
Population 124,214,766 8,128
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Japanese Cook Islands Māori, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +682
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110