Moving to Cook Islands from Thailand

moving to

What to Expect

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

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2012

per 100,000 people per year

TH
4.8
CK
3.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TH
25.4
CK
17.6

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Thailand 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

TH
9.3
CK
13.4
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

TH
82
CK
46

Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TH
17.5
CK
18.2
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TH
85.0%
CK
64.8%

Thailand generally does better on infrastructure, though Cook Islands leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TH
0.9%
CK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TH
$21,100
CK
$15,600

Thailand 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

TH
77.7 yrs
CK
77.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TH
6.5
CK
15.9

Thailand 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 Thailand 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.

Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Thailand 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 Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cook Islands is 3.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand.

How is healthcare in Cook Islands compared to Thailand?

Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 13.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cook Islands, compared to 9.3 in Thailand. Cook Islands scores 46 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).

What language do they speak in Cook Islands?

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

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At a Glance

TH CK
Population 69,648,117 8,128
Currency Thai Baht (THB) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Thai Cook Islands Māori, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +66 +682
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191