Places · New Zealand

The best places to live in New Zealand

Arcadia scores 30 places in New Zealand, from Invercargill at about $1,800 a month to Queenstown at about $2,750. 23 are by the sea, 22 are in the mountains. The climate is mostly temperate. Across the country the typical ratings are safety 5/5, healthcare 4/5 and internet 4/5.

📍
Places
30
💵
Median cost / mo
~$2,300
🌡️
Climate
temperate
🛡️
Safety
5/5
🏥
Healthcare
4/5
📶
Internet
4/5

The standouts in New Zealand

CheapestInvercargill~$1,800/mo→Safest · Best connected · Most walkableWellington~$2,500/mo→

Cheapest, safest and best connected are within the 30 places Arcadia scores in New Zealand, not the whole country.

All 30 places in New Zealand

Aucklandtemperate · ~$2,200/mo→Christchurchtemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Wellingtontemperate · ~$2,500/mo→Dunedintemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Napiertemperate · ~$2,300/mo→New Plymouthtemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Rotoruatemperate · ~$2,200/mo→Invercargillcold · ~$1,800/mo→Whangareitemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Nelson (NZ)temperate · ~$2,400/mo→Gisbornetemperate · ~$2,200/mo→Taupotemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Cambridge (NZ)temperate · ~$2,300/mo→Queenstowntemperate · ~$2,800/mo→Havelock Northtemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Oamarutemperate · ~$2,200/mo→Waiheke Island (Oneroa)mediterranean · ~$2,100/mo→Wanakatemperate · ~$2,700/mo→Motuekatemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Pictontemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Raglantemperate · ~$2,400/mo→Arrowtowntemperate · ~$2,700/mo→Kaikouratemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Coromandel Towntemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Paihia (Bay of Islands)mediterranean · ~$2,000/mo→Takakatemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Akaroatemperate · ~$2,300/mo→Russell (Bay of Islands)temperate · ~$2,400/mo→Stewart Island (Oban)cold · ~$2,000/mo→Golden Bay (Collingwood)temperate · ~$2,200/mo→

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to live in New Zealand?

Across the 30 places Arcadia scores in New Zealand the median is about $2,300 a month for one person, from Invercargill at around $1,800 to Queenstown at around $2,750. These are estimates for everyday living, rent included, not quotes.

What is the cheapest place to live in New Zealand?

Invercargill, at about $1,800 a month. It is the cheapest of the 30 places Arcadia scores in New Zealand, which is not the same as the cheapest in the country.

Which place in New Zealand has the best internet?

Wellington, rated 5 out of 5. The typical rating across the 30 places is 4 out of 5.

How safe are the places Arcadia scores in New Zealand?

The typical safety rating is 5 out of 5, and the highest-rated is Wellington. These are broad country-level estimates meant for comparing places, not local advice for a particular street or moment.

Which of these actually fits you?

A list ranks places for an average person who does not exist. Answer a few honest questions and we will rank these 30, and 3,500+ others, against your life.

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