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
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Discover affordable living in New Zealand with options outside the main centres. The West Coast is the nation's cheapest region, with rentals from $450/week and an average house price of $452,250.

Southland is the second most affordable area, offering average rents of $495/week and homes just over $500,000. For city dwellers, Christchurch is the most budget-friendly major city. Even pricey Auckland has cheaper suburbs like Tuakau and Rānui for those seeking value.

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