What is the Best Way to Pay in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

Last Updated: 15 June, 2025

The Best Payment Methods in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

Authentic Insights from Expert Travel Writers*

So you’re going through the “essentials” planning stage for your trip to the Cook Islands? Don’t worry, it’s going to be pretty simple when it comes to figuring out what payment method you’re going to choose. While everywhere in the Cook Islands accepts cash in the local currency, New Zealand Dollars, most merchants also accept Visa and MasterCard should you want to pay with credit, debit, EFTPOS or a travel money card.

If you want to go old school, you could even redeem a traveller’s cheque at the local banks… Ok, maybe the latter isn’t our top recommendation, but we compare all of the ways to pay in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands in this guide.

How much will you spend in the Cook Islands? Find out in our complete guide, How Much Spending Money to Take to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

*Our tips come from real travel writers who’ve explored the Cook Islands (no AI copycats here). Scroll down to the bottom to learn more about us!

Currency in the Cook Islands

First things first, you need to know the currency in the Cook Islands. Rarotonga and the Cook Islands use the New Zealand Dollar, usually seen written as “NZD” or “NZ$”. Coins and notes come in the following values:

💰 Type	💵 Values (NZD)
Coins	10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $2
Notes	$5, $10, $20, $50, $100

The country also uses its own issued Cook Islands banknotes and coins, which come in coins of 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2 and $5 and banknotes of $3, $10, $20 and $50. However, these notes and coins can only be used in the Cook Islands and cannot be exchanged overseas.

See our complete article on What is the Currency of the Cook Islands? for more information.

What is the Best Way to Pay in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? [2023]

Cash (New Zealand Dollars)

Cash is the most accepted payment method in the Cook Islands. However, like anywhere in the world, most travellers don’t like to travel with all the cash they will need for one holiday for obvious security reasons.

We recommend withdrawing cash every few days, where possible. This way, you avoid credit card surcharges with every transaction you make (see the “Credit and Debit Cards” section below).

What’s more, those travelling to less populated areas, like the outer islands other than Aitutaki will have no choice but to use cash, as we discovered on our last escapade to the islands.

How to Get New Zealand Dollars in the Cook Islands

ATMs are available in abundance on Rarotonga and only in two cases in Aitutaki. There are no ATMs on the other outer islands.

You can withdraw New Zealand Dollars from ATMs using overseas debit and credit cards (Visa and MasterCard), but note that your bank will apply foreign exchange fees, as well as a withdrawal fee of around NZ$5.50-$7 from the ATM.

There is also a maximum withdrawal amount, which is between NZ$650 and $1,000, depending on the ATM (see our table on Can You Use Your Credit or Debit Card in the Cook Islands? for more details).

Tip: There is no ATM withdrawal fee for New Zealand-issued bank cards at the BCI Bank ATM in Avarua, not the ones on the main street, but around the corner.

Another way to get New Zealand Dollars in the Cook Islands is to exchange currency at a BCI bank on Rarotonga. No banks on the other outer islands offer foreign exchange.

Finally, foreign exchange bureaus are available in Avarua and Muri on Rarotonga. Compare all of your foreign exchange options in the Cook Islands using The Best Places to Exchange Currency in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Credit and Debit Cards (EFTPOS)

For ease and security, paying by credit or debit card (or EFTPOS, if you’re Kiwi) is a popular payment option in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. However, using debit and credit cards in the Cook Islands is limited to the most populated areas, Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

The rest of the islands do not accept credit or debit cards, so be sure to have enough cash on you if spending time in these areas. Get an idea of how much money in our guide, How Much Spending Money Do You Need for Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

Which Credit and Debit Cards are Accepted in the Cook Islands?

Visa and MasterCard cards are accepted in the Cook Islands as long as they have a four-digit PIN code.

Credit and Debit Card Charges

Your credit or debit card’s issuing bank will likely have a fee for a “foreign currency service”, which is 1-3% of the transaction in your home currency. This fee is often also applied when using an ATM in the Cook Islands. Please note that many Cook Islands businesses charge a credit card fee of 2.5-3% for each transaction. We have even seen a 5% surcharge.

Learn more about using a bank card to pay your way through the Cook Islands in our complete guide, Can You Use Your Credit or Debit Card in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

What is the Best Way to Pay in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

Travel Money Cards

A way to make cash withdrawals and card payments in the Cook Islands without the conversion fees is with a travel money card.

Also known as foreign exchange cards or prepaid travel cards, these are similar to credit cards with a pre-approved amount of credit, but are available in multiple currencies. When making a payment, they function similarly to a credit or debit card, as long as they are issued by a common type of card accepted in the Cook Islands, such as Visa and MasterCard.

Ensure your travel money card offers New Zealand Dollars as a currency option. Note that you will still have to pay a credit card surcharge applied by local businesses for using a non-Cook Islands bank card.

Traveller’s Cheques

For the very limited number of travellers still using traveller’s cheques, they can be redeemed at Rarotonga’s banks. However, you will not be able to redeem cheques outside of Rarotonga. For this reason, as well as the processing fees and unfavourable exchange rates, we don’t recommend using traveller’s cheques in the Cook Islands.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Pay in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

Let’s review some of the most frequently asked questions about payment options in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. If your question hasn’t been answered already, then you might get it answered here!

You can pay in Rarotonga with New Zealand Dollars, Cook Islands banknotes and coins (of the same value as NZD), or with Visa or MasterCard.

We recommend bringing enough cash (New Zealand Dollars) for your first three to four days on Rarotonga. Then, you can withdraw New Zealand Dollars from the local ATMs with your credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard) for the next few days, etc.

Yes, you can use a debit card at most stores, restaurants and accommodations in Rarotonga as long as it is Visa or MasterCard and has a four-digit PIN encoded.

Yes, you can use a credit card at most stores, restaurants, and accommodations in Rarotonga, as long as it is a Visa or MasterCard with a four-digit PIN encoded.

You can take any amount under NZ$10,000 (or the foreign equivalent) in cash to the Cook Islands. If you declare NZ$10,000 or more, you must complete a border cash report and pay the applicable duty. See What to Declare When Arriving in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands for more information.

As we discovered on our last trip to Rarotonga, there are approximately 15 ATMs around the island. 10 of them are operated by BSP Bank, which you can check the locations of in the Information, Shops & Services on Rarotonga.

More About How to Pay in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

That’s it for our complete guide on the best ways to pay in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. For more money tips, check out our other awesome guides:

Finally, plan your entire trip with frugality in mind with The Complete Backpacking Guide to the Cook Islands on a Budget.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, a local government body representing the tourism industry. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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