Housing ranges from city apartments to suburban homes and beachside properties. Costs vary widely by region — generally far more affordable outside Auckland and Wellington.
Kettle on. About 7 minGrocery prices are consistent nationwide, with abundant fresh local produce. The lower cost of living in regional centres — paired with the country’s natural and cultural offerings — makes them especially appealing for families.
Driving is on the left, and a network of well-maintained highways connects the country. Public transport is strongest in the main cities; in smaller towns a car is recommended. Utilities are straightforward to set up once you have an address.
What you’ll pay to rent
Rents vary widely by region and property type. These are indicative weekly ranges to help you budget — always check current listings for your area.
| Where you settle | Flatshare | 1-bed | 3-bed house |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major city (e.g. Auckland) | $200–400 | $400–700 | $600–1,200 |
| Smaller city | $150–300 | $250–450 | $400–800 |
| Town | $100–250 | $200–400 | $300–600 |
| Village / rural | $80–200 | $150–350 | $200–500 |
Indicative weekly rent in NZD. Most rentals are unfurnished.
Finding your first home
Trade Me and realestate.co.nz are commercial businesses. We don’t endorse them; they are simply where most rentals are listed.
What you’ll pay upfront
Before you get the keys, expect to pay a bond of up to four weeks’ rent, lodged with Tenancy Services and returned when you leave, plus up to two weeks’ rent in advance. If the landlord agrees to a pet, they can also ask for a pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent.
| Example at NZ$600 a week | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bond (four weeks) | $2,400 |
| Rent in advance (two weeks) | $1,200 |
| Total before you move in | $3,600 |
Example only. Furnishing, moving costs and any pet bond are on top. Bond and rent in advance are the legal maximums, so some landlords ask for less. Tenancy Services is the official source. For the whole move, use the moving cost calculator.
What to check before signing
Since 1 July 2025 all private rentals must meet the Healthy Homes standards: a fixed heater that can heat the main living room, ceiling and underfloor insulation, opening windows in every living space, extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, good drainage and no unreasonable draughts. Older New Zealand houses can be cold and damp, so ask about them anyway.
- What heats the living room, and roughly what power costs in winter.
- Whether there is insulation in the ceiling and under the floor.
- Any signs of damp or mould, especially in bedrooms and wardrobes.
- Which way the house faces: north-facing rooms get the winter sun.
- Whether the rent includes water, lawns or anything else.
Furnishing an unfurnished rental
Most rentals come empty. New Zealand has a busy second-hand market, and most clinicians furnish gradually: a bed and the kitchen basics in the first week, the rest once they know what the house needs.
| Essentials | Typical second-hand price |
|---|---|
| Queen bed frame | $100–500 |
| Mattress (most people buy this new) | $400–1,000 |
| Sofa | $150–800 |
| Dining table & chairs | $150–700 |
| Washing machine | $250–700 |
| Fridge freezer | $300–900 |
Indicative second-hand prices in NZD. They vary by region and condition, so treat them as a starting point for a budget, not a quote. Couples who mix second-hand furniture with a new mattress and bedding tend to furnish a rental for around NZ$2,500–5,000 all in.
- Second-hand — Facebook Marketplace is the busiest place for local, near-new pieces; then Trade Me, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, City Mission stores, Salvation Army Family Stores and hospice shops.
- New, on a budget — several national retailers sell starter pieces and packages for the few things you would rather buy new, such as a mattress. Colleagues will tell you which are good value locally.
- Locally — most regions have a well-loved used-furniture dealer. New colleagues will know the nearest one.
“I spent ages deciding what to ship and what to leave behind. In the end, the cost of shipping some of our furniture was more than it was worth. There’s so much available second-hand in New Zealand through Facebook Marketplace and Trade Me. We arrived with far less than we originally planned and just bought things as we needed them.”
The misconception we hear most is that the house needs to be furnished by day one. Building it gradually costs less, and it means you are not buying a sofa for a suburb you may not stay in. Our advice is usually to arrive with less than you planned and buy as you go.
The cost of everyday life
Weekends worth looking forward to
- The outdoors — hiking and tramping (the Great Walks are world-famous), skiing in the Southern Alps, mountain biking, kayaking and surf beaches.
- Wildlife & wide skies — whale watching at Kaikōura, some of the Southern Hemisphere’s best stargazing, and native birdlife found nowhere else.
- Food, wine & culture — Marlborough and Central Otago wine regions, a strong café culture, festivals, and a sporting life built around rugby, cricket and netball.
Faith & community
New Zealand is religiously diverse and tolerant. Churches of many denominations sit alongside mosques, temples, gurdwaras and synagogues in the main centres, and there’s an easy acceptance of those who follow no faith at all.
Go deeperLiving & thriving in New Zealand→Ethicare Resourcing
This chapter is part of a bigger guide — and we’re here for the rest of it
We place healthcare professionals across New Zealand and Australia, and stay with the move through registration, visas and the first months after you land.