Property Market
1 min read
For many Kiwis, buying a house in New Zealand feels like an unattainable dream.
House prices remain high, even though they’ve been stable in recent months.
Today, the median house price in New Zealand hovers around $760,000 (REINZ, July 2026). In Auckland, that figure pushes up to $940,000.
But that still means that half of properties in New Zealand are selling for less than $760,000.
So where are these cheaper properties?
There are a couple of different ways to crunch the data. So let’s have a look.
One way to find cheaper areas is to look for the lowest median sale price.
Opotiki District, the cheapest area in New Zealand, has a median price of $280,000 (REINZ, July 2026).
That means half the properties in Opotiki District (in July) sold for less than $280,000. And half the properties sold that month sold for more than $280,000.
The areas with the lowest median sales prices are:
This table breaks down the median sale price for each region in order of cheapest to the most expensive.
But this isn’t the only measure of where to find a cheaper property. So, let’s look at the chance of finding a more affordable property in your area.
It’s important to say the cheapest houses in New Zealand won’t be the most luxurious.
Some may not even be liveable (depending on where they are).
And they may not be the best investments or in the best areas.
But, we often think of New Zealand houses as very expensive. And it’s true. They are expensive.
But, there are some areas where properties are substantially more affordable.
So, if you are looking for a house on the cheaper side, this is where you can find them.
Resident Economist, with a GradDipEcon and over five years at Opes Partners, is a trusted contributor to NZ Property Investor, Informed Investor, Stuff, Business Desk, and OneRoof.
Ed, our Resident Economist, is equipped with a GradDipEcon, a GradCertStratMgmt, BMus, and over five years of experience as Opes Partners' economist. His expertise in economics has led him to contribute articles to reputable publications like NZ Property Investor, Informed Investor, OneRoof, Stuff, and Business Desk. You might have also seen him share his insights on television programs such as The Project and Breakfast.
This article is for your general information. It’s not financial advice. See here for details about our Financial Advice Provider Disclosure. So Opes isn’t telling you what to do with your own money.
We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong. Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
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