Moving to Cook Islands from Timor-Leste

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What to Expect

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

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Timor-Leste and Cook Islands stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2015

per 100,000 people per year

TL
4.1
CK
3.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
CK
17.6

Timor-Leste generally does better on safety, though Cook Islands leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

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

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
CK
13.4
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

TL
52
CK
46

Timor-Leste 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

TL
0.0
CK
18.2
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TL
39.0%
CK
64.8%

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TL
1.5%
CK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
CK
$15,600

Timor-Leste generally does better on employment & economy, though Cook Islands leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
CK
77.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
CK
15.9

Cook Islands performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste 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.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste and Cook Islands.

Is Cook Islands safe for expats?

Timor-Leste generally does better on safety, though Cook Islands leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Cook Islands is 3.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.

How is healthcare in Cook Islands compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste 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 7.7 in Timor-Leste. Cook Islands scores 46 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in Cook Islands?

The official languages in Cook Islands are Cook Islands Māori and English. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL CK
Population 1,445,006 8,128
Currency United States Dollar ($) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum Cook Islands Māori, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +670 +682
Time zones 1 1