Hamilton & Waikato Tourism© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Hamilton: A Guide to Cheap Long-Term Accommodation [2024]

© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

A Guide to Cheap Weekly Accommodation in Hamilton

The hub of the Waikato region teeming with job opportunities and buzzing student life, Hamilton has many drawcards. Whether you’re sticking around for work as part of your working holiday or studying at the University of Waikato, you’re going to need to find cheap long-term accommodation in Hamilton.

Because Hamilton is split into many districts, we have put together a quick list of the districts where you are likely to find some cheap weekly or long-term accommodation, as well as outlining how far away they are from the city centre. This guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Hamilton is also split into accommodation types, so you can just skip straight to your preferred accommodation style.

So, find a place to stay in Hamilton using our nifty guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Hamilton!

Which Hamilton District to Find Long-Term Accommodation?

There is cheap long-term accommodation found all over Hamilton. Here’s a quick rundown on what to expect in each Hamilton suburb in relation to Hamilton’s city centre. For more about Hamilton, check out or Hamilton – Guide for Backpackers.

Note: CBD refers to Central Business District i.e. Hamilton city centre.

  • Hamilton Central – Location: city centre. Distance from CBD: you’re in it. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$200.
  • Hamilton East – Location: east of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
  • Hamilton Lake – Location: south of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 4min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
  • Frankton – Location: west of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 7min drive/27min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
  • Dinsdale/Western Heights – Location: west of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 9min walk/50min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
  • Nawton – Location: northwest of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 10min drive/1hour walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$150.
  • Whitiora – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/18min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
  • Forest Lake – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.
  • Claudelands – Location: northeast of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
  • Hillcrest – Location: east of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 10min drive/1hour walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
  • Fairfield – Location: northeast of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 6min drive/30min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
  • Chartwell – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 8min drive/50min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
  • Te Rapa – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD:10min drive/1hour walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$170.
  • Pukete – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 13min drive/1h20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
  • Rototuna – Location: north of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 13min drive/1h30min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
  • Melville – Location: south of the city centre. Distance from CBD: 6min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$160.

Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

cheap long-term accommodation in hamilton© NZPocketGuide.com

Hostels in Hamilton

Hostels are a good place to start when looking for cheap long-term accommodation in Hamilton. Not only do they provide an affordable base for rental-hunting but many also offer weekly rates.

There are 4+ hostels in the city of Hamilton, all of which are either within the city centre or in very close walking distance. Check them out at 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Hamilton.

Because of the limited number of hostels in Hamilton, make sure you book your night in advance, especially during the peak season (summer) or during event weekends, such as Balloons Over Waikato (usually around 20-31st March).

Expect a night in a Hamilton hostel to be NZ$29-$38 per dorm-room bed. You can always keep the cost of living down along with an extended stay by working for accommodation in a Hamilton hostel. For tips, have a look at How to Find Work for Accommodation in New Zealand.

pxhere© pxhere

Renting a Room in Hamilton

Renting a room is common practice in Hamilton to keep the price to a minimum when staying for the long term, usually done if you are a university student or have landed a job in Hamilton as part of a working holiday.

Expect room prices 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$125 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 Hamilton, 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.

pixabay© pixabay

Airbnb in Hamilton

Stay with a local in Hamilton! Airbnb, the online network of people’s spare rooms available for accommodation, is pretty popular in Hamilton.

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 Hamilton. An Airbnb room can also be a more convenient suburban location and something different from the hostel experience.

Although the average price for a room in Hamilton is NZ$170 per night, it is possible to find accommodation around the NZ$50-$110 price range across the Hamilton suburbs, such as Hamilton East, Frankton, Hillcrest and Rototuna. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

For more information about 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.

cheap long-term accommodation in hamilton© NZPocketGuide.com

Holiday Parks and Campgrounds in Hamilton

There are limited options for commercial holiday parks and freedom camping spots within the city of Hamilton.

If you have a certified self-contained vehicle, you are welcome to freedom camp at Porritt Stadium and the Classics Museum car park. For advice on local laws of freedom camping in Hamilton, see Freedom Camping Rules in New Zealand: Region by Region.

Power sites and tent sites along with other facilities can be found at the Hamilton City Holiday Park in Claudlands. Expect to pay between NZ$42-$47 per night for a powered site or tent site. Campervans can park up at the Glenview Club in Melville to use their non-powered sites (NZ$18) or powered sites (NZ$23). Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

For information about what to expect from campgrounds and holiday parks, check out our guide to Camping in New Zealand and Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.

More About Hamilton

That’s it for our guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Hamilton. Here’s everything else you need to know about staying in Hamilton:

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:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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