Buying guide

These are the cheapest places to live in New Zealand

New Zealand is expensive - but these cities and towns aren’t

Ben Tutty
Last updated: 9 July 2025 | 3 min read
AI

AI summary

While New Zealand housing is expensive, several regions offer great value. The West Coast is the cheapest for both renting and buying, with average house prices around $452,250.

Southland is the second cheapest region, followed by Christchurch, which is the most affordable major city. Even in pricey Auckland, suburbs like Tuakau and Ōtara offer more budget-friendly options.

Use Trade Me Property to filter by price and discover affordable homes across the country.

The cheapest place to live in New Zealand — West Coast

Second cheapest — Southland

Invercargill is the biggest city in Southland and one of the cheapest cities in NZ.

Christchurch: Cheapest major city in New Zealand

The cheapest places to live in Auckland

Auckland is expensive, unless you know where to look.

Find the cheapest places to live in New Zealand

Find the cheapest houses for sale in New Zealand

Author

Ben Tutty Ben Tutty
Content Writer