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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
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While New Zealand can be expensive, several regions offer affordable living. The West Coast is the cheapest, with weekly rents from $250 and average house prices around $452,250.

Other affordable areas include:

- Southland: The second cheapest region.

- Christchurch: New Zealand's most affordable major city.

- Auckland: Suburbs like Tuakau and Rānui offer cheaper rentals.

Explore Trade Me Property to find budget-friendly homes for rent or sale 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

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Ben Tutty Ben Tutty
Content Writer