The cost of living in New Zealand

Accommodation is quite expensive in New Zealand, especially in the major cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. Rent is charged by the week and you generally have to pay it every week. If you want to keep your accommodation budget down, you should try to find shared accommodation, which is often cheaper.

Renting a place

This amazing government website can provide you with information on the rates charged in each region and even in the different districts of a city (if it is large enough). The data is based on feedback from tenants, who provide their rental prices every 6 months. Bookmark this link, it can be very useful when you’re looking for accommodation. Of course, rents vary, so they will be higher if you are only planning to live in a property for a few months.

Here is a small table summarising the cost of renting a place in various New Zealand cities. Prices are per week.

Living in a backpackers and a working hostel

A number of working holiday makers choose to live in youth hostels (backpackers). The (sometimes attractive) prices, the social life and the location are all criteria that can lead them to make this choice. What’s more, the price of accommodation can be considerably reduced when some youth hostels offer a free bed in exchange for a few hours’ work. Note that there may also be a few disadvantages (noise, little or no privacy, bad roommates, etc.).

For those who opt for this type of accommodation, a bed in a dormitory costs around $30-40 per night (or around $210-$280 per week). Some hostels also offer weekly rates if you stay for more than two weeks. In some regions looking for seasonal workers, there are what are known as working hostels, where you stay while you work (picking fruit, vegetables, etc.). A bed in a dormitory in this type of hostel generally costs between $120 and $250 a week. However, be careful with this type of hostel: you may have to commit to staying there for the duration of your job (even if better accommodation opportunities arise).

Finally, some hostels and working hostels offer van and car parking. This way, you pay less rent than in a dormitory, while retaining your privacy and the advantages of a hostel.

Sleeping in your car or your tent

Sleeping in a car or tent can save you some money. However, you are not allowed to sleep everywhere, in town or on the side of the road. You must set up in authorised areas. Be aware that the police can fine you up to $400 for sleeping in unauthorised areas (on the Coromandel Peninsula or in Queenstown, for example).

If you are seasonal, note that some employers offer pitches for tents or vehicles. This costs around $5 to $15 per person per night. Showers may or may not be included (otherwise, you should expect to pay around $3-10 for a shower).

If you’re wandering around the country, you can turn to municipal campsites in certain towns or to campsites run by the Department of Conservation (DoC). The DoC offers 4 categories of campsite (in addition to those located on hiking trails), which cost between $8 and $20 per person per night. It also offers free basic campsites. There is also a $199 campsite pass that you can use at most DoC campsites. To find out more, visit this page.

There are also campsites run by private companies. Prices vary widely depending on the region, comfort and type of accommodation. Prices range from around $10 to $60 per person per night.