Moving to Cook Islands from Palau

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Palau to Cook Islands? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Palau to Cook Islands. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cook Islands compared to Palau.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

per 100,000 people per year

PW
11.2
CK
3.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PW
22.2
CK
17.6

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Palau 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

PW
17.8
CK
13.4
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

PW
65
CK
46

Palau 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

PW
6.9
CK
18.2

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2015

percentage of the labour force without work

PW
1.7%
CK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PW
$15,800
CK
$15,600

Palau 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

PW
74.6 yrs
CK
77.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PW
11.3
CK
15.9

Palau generally does better on family life, though Cook Islands leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Palau 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.

Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Palau 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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Cook Islands: 18.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Cook Islands offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Cook Islands safe for expats?

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cook Islands is 3.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.2 in Palau.

How is healthcare in Cook Islands compared to Palau?

Palau performs better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 13.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cook Islands, compared to 17.8 in Palau. Cook Islands scores 46 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Palau: 65).

What language do they speak in Cook Islands?

The official languages in Cook Islands are Cook Islands Māori and English. In Palau, the official languages are English and Palauan.

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At a Glance

PW CK
Population 21,695 8,128
Currency United States Dollar ($) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English, Palauan Cook Islands Māori, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +680 +682
Time zones 1 1