A Guide to Cheap Weekly Accommodation in Christchurch City
Christchurch is a must-visit for any working holidaymaker or student. Not only is the city plentiful with short-term work opportunities, but you’re bound to find some cheap long-term accommodation in Christchurch. Whether you’re here to see the sights of this reviving city on an extended visit or stay here long-term to study, you can find rentals, hostels, Airbnb, rooms to rent and more cheap weekly accommodation in Christchurch.
Because Christchurch is a pretty huge city, we have put together a quick list of the inner city suburbs where you are likely to find some cheap long-term accommodation, as well as outlining how far away they are from Christchurch’s city centre. This accommodation guide to Christchurch is also split into accommodation types, so you can just skip straight to your preferred short-term or long-term accommodation.
So, find a place to stay in Christchurch using our nifty guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Christchurch City.
Which Christchurch Suburb to Find Long-Term Accommodation?
There is cheap weekly accommodation found all over Christchurch city. Here’s a quick rundown on what to expect in each Christchurch suburb in relation to Christchurch city centre. For the rest of Christchurch’s outer suburbs and districts, read our Cheap Long-Term Accommodation Guide to the Christchurch Region.
Note: CBD refers to Central Business District i.e. Christchurch’s city centre. For more information on getting around, check out Public Transport in Christchurch.
- Christchurch City Centre – Location: city centre. Distance from CBD: you’re in it. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
- Addington – Location: southwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/35min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Spreydon – Location: south of CBD. Distance from CBD: 9min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
- Avonside – Location: northwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 9min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
- Barrington/Somerfield – Location: south of CBD. Distance from CBD: 10min drive/50min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Bryndwr – Location: northwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 12min drive/1h10min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$200.
- Dallington/Shirley – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 13min drive/1hourwalk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
- Edgeware/St Albans/Merivale/Mairehau – Location: north of CBD. Distance from CBD: 10min drive/30min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
- Fendalton – Location: northwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 12min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Ilam – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 15min drive/1h10min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- Linwood/Phillipstown – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/40 min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- Papanui – Location: north of CBD. Distance from CBD: 15min drive/1hour walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
- Riccarton/Upper Riccarton – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 11min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
- Richmond – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/35min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- Sydenham – Location: south of CBD. Distance from CBD: 7min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$200.
- Waltham – Location: southeast of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/35min drive. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For the rest of Christchurch’s suburbs and districts, such as Sumner, New Brighton, Cashmere and Hornby, check out the Cheap Long-Term Accommodation Guide to the Christchurch Region.
© NZPocketGuide.comHostels in Christchurch City
Hostels are a good place to start when looking for cheap long-term accommodation in Christchurch. Not only do they provide an affordable base for rental-hunting but many also offer weekly rates.
There are 17+ hostels in the city centre and inner suburbs of Christchurch, many of which have been newly refurbished since the earthquakes so are looking rather flash. Not only will you find hostels conveniently placed in the city centre, but you can enjoy a quieter inner suburb hostel experience in Edgeware, Burnside and Addington.
The cheapest hostel prices in Central Christchurch range from NZ$25 to $36 per bed per night in a dorm room. We always recommend booking your bed a week or two in advance in Christchurch, especially in summer (the peak season in New Zealand) and especially for our recommended hostels in Christchurch.
You can always keep the cost of living down along with an extended stay by working for accommodation in a Christchurch hostel. For tips, have a look at How to Find Work for Accommodation in New Zealand.
© pexelsRenting a Room in Christchurch City
Renting a room is common practice in Christchurch to keep the price to a minimum when staying for the long term, usually done if you have landed a job in Christchurch as part of a working holiday or are a student.
With that, Christchurch is an extremely affordable city to live in compared to the rest of New Zealand. Expect a room to rent in Christchurch Central and the inner suburbs to be around NZ$170 per week. That’s a room to yourself in a flatshare or houseshare. You may find cheaper, around the NZ$135 per week mark, for a shared room. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For advice on how to find a room to rent in Christchurch, have a look at our 6 Resources to Find a Room to Rent in New Zealand. Renting a room involves a more complicated process than staying in short-term accommodation, so get clued up by reading The Paperwork Process of Renting or Flatting in New Zealand.
© pixabayAirbnb in Christchurch City
Stay with a local in Christchurch! Airbnb, the online network of peoples spare rooms available for accommodation, is super popular in Christchurch. Plus, Christchurch has some of the most affordable Airbnb rooms out of any city in New Zealand.
Like hostels, Airbnb stays can provide a cheap room while finding something long term. Alternatively, some Airbnb hosts offer weekly rates for cheap long-term accommodation in Christchurch.
Although the average room price is NZ$190 per night, there are plenty of NZ$30-$120 rooms spread out around the city centre and the inner suburbs of Christchurch. The city centre, Spreydon, Edgeware, Waltham, Phillipstown and Riccarton are particularly good for finding Airbnb rooms. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For more information on Airbnb, check out Everything You Need to Know About Airbnb in New Zealand and 10 Tips to Make the Most of Airbnb in New Zealand.
© pexelsCampgrounds and Holiday Parks in Christchurch City
With recent law changes on freedom camping, you can only pitch a tent or sleep in your campervan in commercial holiday parks and campgrounds. Those with a self-contained vehicle can stay for a maximum of two nights in the inner suburbs of Christchurch. More information is available in Where to Camp in Christchurch.
The only inner suburb holiday park is at the Amber Kiwi Holiday Park in Middleton. Tent site prices start from NZ$42 per night. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change. For alternative Christchurch holiday parks and campgrounds in the city’s outer suburbs, check out our Cheap Long-Term Accommodation Guide to the Christchurch Region.
For information about camping, check out the guide to Camping in New Zealand and Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.
More About Christchurch
That’s it for our guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Christchurch. Here’s everything else you need to know about staying in Christchurch:
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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