The Cheapest Cities in New Zealand for the Cost of Life
New Zealand only has 15 official cities in order of population:
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier/Hastings, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Nelson, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Invercargill, Whanganui and Gisborne.
This article will only cover the cheapest and the best of those cities to live in New Zealand. On an additional note, a city in New Zealand is loosely defined by the Local Government Act as “a place of dwelling that has a minimum population of 50,000”.
The rest of the dots on your map are towns, townships, settlements, villages… whatever you want to call them. It is worth noting that small towns often offer much cheaper costs of living. However, as this article is intended to be a guide for temporary seasonal workers coming to New Zealand we are taking into account the fact that many backpackers in New Zealand decide to settle in a city during their gap year. We thought it would be a good idea to class the 10 biggest cities of New Zealand by the cost of living so you know what you are in for when budgeting. We have also added Queenstown as it is on every itinerary, although, not a city.
The rankings below were made using data from government agencies as well as a price-watch organisation to bring you a fair “cost of living” ranking based on the average cost of living in New Zealand.
1. Rotorua
With cheap rent, entertainment and food, Rotorua easily tops this list. Roto-Vegas, as it is known by locals, provides endless opportunities for adrenaline junkies and nature-lovers alike without the price tags of the big cities. There are also heaps of job opportunities in the greater Rotorua area making it the top choice for a lengthier stop for savvy backpackers. Does this make Rotorua the best place to live in New Zealand? Keep on reading about more cities to decide for yourself.
Check out The Guide to Rotorua on a Budget and Accommodation Guide to Rotorua for more info on life in New Zealand cheapest town.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Napier and Hastings
New Zealand’s high-end wine country is surprisingly cheap to live in. All cost of life indicators are pointing down, making Napier/Hastings a serious contender for a cheap lifestyle. Hawke’s Bay is already a backpacker magnet around the end of summer where picking jobs are plentiful. The cheap cost of life is just a bonus as Napier and Hastings offer life under the average cost of living in New Zealand.
For more info on the area read The Guide to Napier on a Budget and our Accommodation Guide to Napier and Accommodation Guide to Hastings
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Whangarei
Located only a short drive north of Auckland, Whangarei is the perfect spot to settle in for any backpacker with a car. It is the gateway to the stunning Bay of Islands and offers the proximity to New Zealand’s biggest city without the cost of its expensive lifestyle (see Auckland at the bottom of this article). Although the amount of rooms to rent is pretty low, the prices of the ones available are low. Food and produce are on the cheap as well thanks to the regular surplus from the greater Auckland discounters.
Don’t miss our Accommodation Guide to Whangarei and our The Guide to Whangarei on a Budget for more info on the city.
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Palmerston North
Manawatu is probably the most underrated region on New Zealand’s North Island. Often only driven through, the region has a lot to offer with mountains and rivers to explore. Palmerston North has cheap accommodation from hostels to flats and everything in between. The activities in the area are also decently priced, far from the big backpacking hubs that have seen their price soar in recent years.
Keen to give Palmy a try? Check out our Accommodation Guide to Palmerston North and The Guide to Palmerston North on a Budget.
© NZPocketGuide.com5. Hamilton
Hamilton is located only a 1h45min drive from bustling Auckland, yet it benefits from a cost of life almost 40% lower than Auckland City. In the city, there is plenty of retail jobs and surrounding farming jobs in the dairy industry. Hamilton is also a fantastic hub for trips toRaglan, the surf mecca of New Zealand, Hobbiton in Matamata, the Waitomo Caves, and countless others!
We’ve compiled more info for you in our Accommodation Guide to Hamilton as well as The Guide to Hamilton on a Budget.
© Hamilton & Waikato New Zealand6. Tauranga
Often mentioned as the best city to live in New Zealand Tauranga has it all. Picking, fishing, factory work, retail… there are backpacker jobs available all year round in Tauranga. The small suburb of Mt Maunganui is a tourist hotspot where plenty of hospitality and retail jobs makes Tauranga a Backpacker favourite to settle in for a little while. With a decent cost of living, it is a great place to stop for a while and save up for the next leg of your trip.
Don’t miss our Accommodation Guide to Tauranga and The Guide to Tauranga on a Budget.
© NZPocketGuide.com7. Christchurch
The South Island’s biggest city is the first of New Zealand’s top three cities to enter this ranking. If you need city life at a bargain price, Christchurch is for you with its lower rent and overall cost of life compared to Wellington and Auckland. The city has plenty of jobs to offer keen backpackers from construction jobs to retail to hospitality. For nature-lovers with a car, the Banks Peninsula and Arthurs Pass are only a short drive away and never fail to impress. For an even lower cost of life, consider Christchurch’s outer suburbs.
We have plenty of Christchurch related articles, start with our Accommodation Guide to Christchurch City (and region) or The Guide to Christchurch on a Budget.
© Roger Wong on Wikipedia8. New Plymouth
New Zealand’s hipster city comes at hipster prices. The fourth most expensive city to live is still much cheaper to live in than most European and North American cities but compared to its neighbours on the North Island, it comes at a sharp price. However, the art scene, surf waves and proximity to Mt Taranaki more than makes up for it. It is common to find people staying there much longer than they planned to, whether it’s for the nightlife, the surf, the vibe or simply because it is far off the main tourist highways.
Check out The Guide to New Plymouth on a Budget as well as our Accommodation Guide to New Plymouth for more info on the artsy town.
© Pixabay9. Wellington
New Zealand’s capital city is unsurprisingly one of the most expensive cities in the country. It is a popular administration and retail job hub for temps and seasonal workers. Coming ninth on this list due to its high rent and overall cost of life, we highly recommend you to look into outer suburbs if settling in Wellington. The train and bus network is great and offers proximity to even the furthest suburbs.
Check out our Accommodation Guide to Wellington (and region) as well as The Guide to Wellington on a Budget to make the most of your stay in Wellington.
© NZPocketGuide.com10. Queenstown
Although it is not a city, Queenstown is on most backpacker’s minds when it comes to places to work in. If settling in the town for a few months, you will want to consider its outer suburbs, the commute is worth saving hundreds on rent. Food prices have also soared in the last few years reflecting the popularity of the town. Oh well, the magnificent Lake Wakatipu, incredible snow resorts, and nightlife scene are worth the extra dollars for the gap year of a lifetime in the Adventure Capital of the World, right?!
For more on life in the Adventure Capital of the World, check out The Guide to Queenstown on a Budget and Accommodation Guide to Queenstown.
© Lawrence Murray on WikipediaWhat About Auckland?
We could not finish our list without mentioning New Zealand’s biggest city which is also New Zealand’s most expensive city. Topping the list of the most expensive city in the country with sky-high prices and overall cost of life, Auckland is by far the least likely place to save money. Jobs are plentiful but so are keen workers. As a result, the competition is pretty fierce when trying to find a job in Auckland. Wages are also slightly lower due to the uneven ratio of workers vs jobs. Plus, with high rent, high food prices, and high entertainment prices, your savings will melt like ice-cream on a hot day. On the other hand, there is always something happening in Auckland and the city is often at the top of any of the “most liveable cities in the world” lists.
Keen to live in Auckland, get informed with The Complete Guide to Auckland as well as our Accommodation Guide for Auckland Central (and region).
© Arran Bee on FlickrMore About Living in New Zealand
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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