A Guide to Cheap Weekly Accommodation in Palmerston North
Museums, street art, weekly events around the city: Palmerston North is a city that’s always buzzing. It’s a hub for bike rides and super hikes in the nearby Manawatu Gorge and Te Apiti Windfarm. Whether you are sticking around Palmerston North for studying or as part of your working holiday, you will find cheap long-term accommodation in Palmerston North.
Because Palmerston North city centre is split into many districts, we have put together a quick list of the districts where you are likely to find some cheap weekly accommodation, as well as outlining how far away they are from the city centre. This long-term accommodation guide to Palmerston North is also split into accommodation types, so you can find both short-term and long-term stays.
So, find a place to stay in Palmerston North using our nifty guide to long-term accommodation in Palmerston North.
Which Palmerston North District to Find Long-Term Accommodation?
There is cheap weekly accommodation found all over Palmerston North. Here’s a quick rundown on what to expect in each Palmerston North suburb in relation to Palmerston North’s city centre. For more about Palmerston North, check out The Travel Guide to Palmerston North on a Budget or Palmerston North – Guide for Backpackers.
Note: CBD refers to Central Business District i.e. Palmerston North city centre.
- Palmerston North Central – Location: city centre. Distance from CBD: you’re in it, Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Papaeioa – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/22min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- Takaro – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 4min drive/12min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- West End – Location: southwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/17min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
- Hokowhitu – Location: southeast of CBD. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/21min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
- Terrace End – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/35min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Roslyn – Location: North Auckland. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/35min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Kelvin Grove – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 11min drive/1h5min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Milson – Location: north of CBD. Distance from CBD: 12min drive/1h30min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
- Cloverlea – Location: northwest of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Highbury – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 7min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Westbrook – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/55min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
- Awapuni – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 7min drive/47min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Massey University – Location: south of CBD. Distance from CBD: 9min drive/50min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
© NZPocketGuide.comHostels in Palmerston North
Hostels are a good place to start when looking for cheap long-term accommodation in Palmerston North. Not only do they provide an affordable base for rental-hunting but many offer their own weekly rates.
However, there is one hostel in Palmerston North and one hostel-priced accommodation at the Massey University during the summer months (20 November – 31 January).
The Railway Hotel Backpackers is a renovated railway hotel turned cheap accommodation with prices starting from NZ$35. Perks include free WiFi, breakfast and some snacks in your room!
For more cheap stays, see the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Palmerston North and 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Palmerston North.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
We always recommend booking your bed a week or two in advance during summer. You can always keep the cost of living down along with an extended stay by working for accommodation in a Palmerston North hostel. For tips, have a look at How to Find Work for Accommodation in New Zealand.
© PexelsRenting a Room in Palmerston North
Renting a room is common practice in Palmerston North to keep the price to a minimum when staying for the long term, usually done if you have landed a job in Palmerston North as part of a working holiday or when studying at Massey University. Palmerston North has is a popular student city in New Zealand so rent prices are kept pretty reasonable for students, young professionals and backpackers.
Rooms for rent can be found all over the city, even in the city centre. Palmerston North is known to be one of the cheapest cities to find a room for rent in New Zealand with rent typically being around NZ$160 per week. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For advice on how to find a room to rent in Auckland, 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 Palmerston North
Stay with a local in Palmerston North! You’ll be calling the city “Palmy” in no time. Airbnb, the online network of people’s spare rooms available for accommodation, is relatively popular in convenient locations around the city centre. However, you may struggle to find Airbnb rooms at ultra-cheap prices with the average Airbnb room in Palmerston North being NZ$140. Airbnb prices start around NZ$50 per room per night. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
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 Wellington.
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.
© pxhereCampgrounds and Holiday Parks in Palmerston North
The most central holiday park with power sites, tent sites and cabins is the Palmerston North Holiday Park in the West End district. Prices start at NZ$30.
Other campground and holiday park options can be found in the nearby villages and towns. Ashhurst Domain for NZ$10 per night. In and around Woodville includes Woodville Ferry Reserve and Ballance Bridge – free campgrounds for those with a self-contained vehicle (be careful where you park after heavy rainfall – the ground can get pretty muddy). There is also a low-cost campground with power sites at the Woodville Camping Ground. Finally, find free campgrounds for self-contained vehicles in Feilding at Timona Park and Victoria Park. Power sites and tent sites can be found at Feilding Holiday Park starting from NZ$15 per night.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For information about camping, check out our guide to Camping in New Zealand. More information on holiday parks can be found in the Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.
More About Palmerston North
That’s it for our guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Palmerston North. Here’s everything else you need to know about staying in Palmerston North city:
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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