Renting Guide

Where to find cheap houses for rent in Auckland

Looking for somewhere affordable to call home? We’ve got you covered

Last updated: 2 April 2024


Finding cheap houses for rent in Auckland isn’t easy. That’s because the City of Sails is home to some of New Zealand’s most expensive property, with an average weekly rent of $660. 

With that said, finding somewhere affordable isn’t impossible - if you know where to look. Here are the cheapest places to find a rental in Auckland, according to Trade Me Property data. 

Where to find cheap apartments for rent in Auckland

The cheapest apartments for rent in Auckland can be found in central suburbs such as:

  • Auckland CBD: $520 per week on average.

  • Grafton: $555 per week on average. 

  • Eden Terrace: $635 per week on average.

  • New Lynn: $605 per week on average. 

These four areas have a high concentration of smaller studio and one bedroom apartments that tend to be affordable. While these areas may have the lowest average rents in Auckland - it’s possible to find cheap apartments elsewhere too. 

South and West Auckland suburbs such as Manurewa, Mangere, Massey and Henderson are home to plenty of cheap apartments (but the average rents in these suburbs skew a bit higher because they have more detached houses). 

Where to find cheap detached houses for rent in Auckland

If you’re looking for a backyard of your own and a little extra room, it’s possible to find cheap houses for rent in Auckland too. According to Trade Me Property data you’ll find the cheapest houses for rent in Auckland in these suburbs:

  • Henderson: $670 per week on average. 

  • Glen Eden: $650 per week on average. 

  • Otahuhu: $645 per week on average. 

  • Pukekohe: $680 per week on average. 

  • Mangere: $665 per week on average. 

There are cheap houses for rent in several other suburbs in Auckland, but these areas are consistently affordable. 

Mangere is one of Auckland's msot affordable suburbs.

Tips for finding cheap houses for rent in Auckland

Auckland is an expensive city to live in, but if you know what you’re doing it’s possible to find a cheap rental. Here are a few tips to find a home for less:

  • Look for apartments, not houses: houses tend to be much more expensive to rent than apartments, especially in central suburbs.

  • Go further from the city centre: as a general rule, apartments and homes further from the city centre tend to be more affordable. If you work from home you could consider living on the fringes of Auckland to save money. 

  • Compromise a little: you may have a list of things you want in a home, whether that’s a big backyard or a short commute. Being flexible on these things may make it easier to find somewhere affordable to live.

  • Live with flatmates: while renting an apartment by yourself is likely to cost you north of $600, renting a room and living with flatmates could cost you less than half that. Check out flatmates wanted on Trade Me to find an affordable room.

If moving out of Auckland is an option, there’s cheaper rent to be found in the other regions too. In fact, every area except for the Bay of Plenty has a cheaper average rent than Auckland. 

Trade Me is the best place to search for cheap houses for rent

Find your own cheap apartment for rent in Auckland

You can find a cheap apartment in Auckland or a house on Trade Me in minutes:

  • Just visit Trademe.co.nz.

  • Pick a location.

  • Set your maximum rent and other filters, like bedrooms and property type. 

  • Hit search and browse results.

If affordability is the priority you can sort by lowest price to find the cheapest apartments in Auckland - right now there’s a one bedroom in the CBD for just $330.

Author

Ben Tutty
Ben Tutty

Ben Tutty is a regular contributor for Trade Me and he's also contributed to Stuff and the Informed Investor. He's got 10+ years experience as both a journalist and website copywriter, specialising in real estate, finance and tourism. Ben lives in Wānaka with his partner and his best mate (Finnegan the whippet).