Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Wellington
This article is updated regularly so you always get the most current data available.
In 2026, Wellington house prices vary widely depending on the neighborhood, the size of the house, and how close you are to the city center or the coast.
Whether you are just starting to explore the market or already comparing specific suburbs, this guide breaks everything down in a clear and straightforward way.
And if you're planning to buy a property in Wellington, you may want to download our real estate pack about Wellington.
A quick summary table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Most expensive Wellington neighborhood for houses | Seatoun |
| Most affordable Wellington neighborhood for houses | Naenae |
| Average price per square meter across Wellington | NZD 8,800 |
| Median house price across Wellington | NZD 1,250,000 |
| Lowest realistic starting budget in Wellington | NZD 550,000 |
| Most expensive Wellington house type by bedroom count | Four-bedroom houses |
| Most affordable Wellington house type by bedroom count | Two-bedroom houses |
| Average price for a two-bedroom house in Wellington | NZD 1,050,000 |
| Average price for a three-bedroom house in Wellington | NZD 1,245,000 |
| Average price for a four-bedroom house in Wellington | NZD 1,570,000 |
| Price gap between the most and least expensive Wellington neighborhood | NZD 1,200,000 (Seatoun vs Naenae, median price) |
| Price spread across Wellington neighborhoods | NZD 6,200 to NZD 11,500 per square meter |
Thinking of buying real estate in Wellington?
Acquiring property in a different country is a complex task. Don't fall into common traps – grab our guide and make better decisions.
Wellington neighborhoods in 2026 ranked by house purchase price
This table ranks the top neighborhoods in the Wellington housing market by house purchase price, from the most expensive to the most affordable.
For each neighborhood, the table includes the average price per square meter, the median property price, the starting budget, the average price for a two-bedroom house, a three-bedroom house, and a four-bedroom house, the typical buyer profile, the key advantages, the key drawbacks, and the market segment.
Finally, please note you'll find much more detailed data in our real estate pack about Wellington.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Average Price per Square Meter | Median Property Price | Starting Budget | Average Price for a Two-Bedroom House | Average Price for a Three-Bedroom House | Average Price for a Four-Bedroom House | Typical Buyers | Key Pros | Key Cons | Market Segment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seatoun | NZD 11,500 | NZD 1,950,000 | NZD 1,400,000 | NZD 1,500,000 | NZD 1,900,000 | NZD 2,400,000 | Wealthy families looking for a prestigious coastal address | Coastal prestige, access to top schools, quiet streets, and consistently strong long-term property values | Very high prices, limited listings on the market, and exposed to coastal weather and wind | Luxury |
| 2 | Kelburn | NZD 10,800 | NZD 1,850,000 | NZD 1,300,000 | NZD 1,400,000 | NZD 1,800,000 | NZD 2,300,000 | Professional families wanting to be close to the CBD | Short distance to Wellington city center, access to top schools, beautiful historic homes, and stable demand | Steep terrain makes parking and access difficult, and prices are high across the board | Luxury |
| 3 | Khandallah | NZD 10,200 | NZD 1,700,000 | NZD 1,200,000 | NZD 1,300,000 | NZD 1,650,000 | NZD 2,100,000 | Upscale families seeking space and good schools | Generous house sizes, leafy and peaceful environment, strong school zones, and convenient train access into the city | Exposed to wind, and older homes can come with significant maintenance costs | Premium |
| 4 | Thorndon | NZD 10,000 | NZD 1,650,000 | NZD 1,150,000 | NZD 1,250,000 | NZD 1,600,000 | NZD 2,000,000 | Professionals and diplomats who need to be close to government and the CBD | Central Wellington location, beautiful heritage homes, and walking distance to Parliament and the CBD | Limited space, high density, and parking is genuinely difficult to find | Premium |
| 5 | Karori | NZD 9,200 | NZD 1,450,000 | NZD 1,000,000 | NZD 1,150,000 | NZD 1,400,000 | NZD 1,750,000 | Families looking to upsize with good schools in reach | Wellington's largest suburb, strong school options, family-friendly atmosphere, and solid resale demand | Longer commute into the city center, and fewer dining or entertainment options nearby | Premium |
| 6 | Miramar | NZD 8,800 | NZD 1,300,000 | NZD 900,000 | NZD 1,050,000 | NZD 1,250,000 | NZD 1,600,000 | Creative professionals drawn to the film industry scene | Strong film industry presence, coastal lifestyle, and improving local amenities | Windy conditions, limited land supply, and prices have been rising quickly | Mid-Market |
| 7 | Island Bay | NZD 8,500 | NZD 1,250,000 | NZD 850,000 | NZD 1,000,000 | NZD 1,200,000 | NZD 1,500,000 | Lifestyle-focused families who want beach access and a village feel | Beach access, strong community spirit, scenic views, and a genuine neighborhood atmosphere | Further from Wellington city center, and public transport options are less frequent than in inner suburbs | Mid-Market |
| 8 | Newtown | NZD 8,200 | NZD 1,150,000 | NZD 800,000 | NZD 950,000 | NZD 1,100,000 | NZD 1,400,000 | First-time buyers looking for a central Wellington address at a more accessible price | Close to Wellington Hospital and the CBD, a vibrant multicultural feel, and strong rental demand for investors | Older housing stock, street noise, and limited off-street parking | Mid-Market |
| 9 | Johnsonville | NZD 7,800 | NZD 1,050,000 | NZD 750,000 | NZD 900,000 | NZD 1,050,000 | NZD 1,300,000 | Suburban families who want good transport links without paying inner-city prices | Well-connected transport hub, a local shopping center, and more house for the money than closer-in suburbs | A more suburban character overall, and traffic congestion during peak hours can be frustrating | Mid-Market |
| 10 | Tawa | NZD 7,200 | NZD 950,000 | NZD 700,000 | NZD 850,000 | NZD 950,000 | NZD 1,200,000 | Value-focused families who prioritize affordability and good schools | Decent school options, a quieter pace of life, and one of the more affordable entry points in the Wellington region | Longer commute into central Wellington, less lifestyle appeal, and slower historical price growth | Affordable |
| 11 | Wainuiomata | NZD 6,500 | NZD 800,000 | NZD 600,000 | NZD 700,000 | NZD 800,000 | NZD 1,000,000 | First-time buyers seeking larger plots at lower prices in the Wellington region | Among the most affordable entry points in Greater Wellington, larger land sizes, and a quiet residential environment | Long commute into Wellington city, limited local amenities, and historically slower capital growth | Affordable |
| 12 | Naenae | NZD 6,200 | NZD 750,000 | NZD 550,000 | NZD 650,000 | NZD 750,000 | NZD 950,000 | Budget buyers and investors looking for long-term upside in the Wellington region | The most affordable house prices in the Wellington area, redevelopment potential, and ongoing infrastructure improvements | Perception challenges for some buyers, fewer local services, and demand recovery has been slower than in other suburbs | Budget |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Wellington
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.
Key insights about house purchase prices in Wellington
Insights
- Wellington's most expensive suburb (Seatoun) costs nearly twice as much as its most affordable (Naenae), with a median price gap of NZD 1.2 million between the two, which shows just how segmented the Wellington house market really is.
- Karori stands out as the best value compromise in the premium Wellington market: it offers large houses and strong school zones, but at NZD 1,450,000 median, it sits well below Kelburn and Thorndon.
- Miramar Wellington house prices are rising faster than most comparable suburbs, driven by film industry demand from Weta Workshop and a growing lifestyle reputation that is pulling in younger professional buyers.
- Four-bedroom Wellington houses typically cost 30 to 40 percent more than three-bedroom ones across the city, which means upsizing comes at a significant financial step-up regardless of the suburb you choose.
- Coastal Wellington suburbs like Seatoun and Island Bay consistently command a 20 to 30 percent price premium over inland suburbs at a comparable distance from the city, entirely driven by lifestyle value rather than commute convenience.
- Newtown offers one of the most compelling value propositions in the Wellington house market in 2026: it sits within walking distance of the CBD, yet its median house price of NZD 1,150,000 is nearly NZD 800,000 below Kelburn.
- The price per square meter in Wellington ranges from NZD 6,200 in Naenae to NZD 11,500 in Seatoun, meaning location alone can nearly double the effective cost of the same physical house.
- Wainuiomata and Naenae offer larger land plots at well under NZD 800,000 median, making them the most realistic entry points for first-time buyers who cannot access the Wellington city market directly.
- Wellington's luxury suburbs (Seatoun, Kelburn, Khandallah) have a structurally limited supply of listings, which keeps prices in those areas persistently high even when broader market sentiment softens.
- Johnsonville acts as a pricing bridge in the Wellington market: it sits just below the NZD 1,050,000 median threshold and gives buyers solid train access to Wellington CBD without crossing into the premium tier.
- Budget Wellington suburbs tend to offer better land size relative to price, which creates long-term upside potential for buyers willing to trade commute time for square meters now.
Get to know the market before buying a property in Wellington
Better information leads to better decisions. Get all the data you need before investing a large amount of money.
About our methodology
We also believe it is important to show our reasoning. It is one of the ways we make our work solid, transparent, and rigorous, just as you will see in our real estate pack about Wellington.
First, please note that this data is updated regularly, so what you see here reflects the current values as of today.
In order to get reliable data on Wellington house purchase prices, we applied a strict source filter. We only used authoritative, verifiable sources specific to the New Zealand property market, not random listings or unsupported figures. More on that point below.
For each Wellington neighborhood, we aggregated the freshest house purchase price data available. When possible, we cross-checked multiple sources to confirm the same price range.
This allowed us to estimate the average price per square meter and the median property price for each Wellington suburb.
We also calculated the starting budget, which represents the lowest realistic entry point to buy a house in that neighborhood. This is not the cheapest possible listing, but a real, achievable floor for a standard Wellington house purchase.
For each house category, we estimated an average purchase price based on local Wellington market conventions. The typical size and layout of a two-bedroom, a three-bedroom, and a four-bedroom house can vary across Wellington suburbs, so we adapted our estimates accordingly.
These estimates were not applied as one flat number across Wellington. They were adjusted by neighborhood and house type to better reflect local ownership conditions and price levels across the city.
This table should therefore be read as a structured market estimate, not as an exact guarantee of transaction prices. Honesty, quality, and rigor are at the core of our work, and they are also what you will find in our real estate pack about Wellington.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our real estate pack about Wellington, we rely on verifiable sources and a transparent methodology.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It Is Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Stats NZ | The official New Zealand government statistics agency, making it the primary reference for national and regional housing data. | We used Stats NZ to understand national and Wellington-region housing price trends. We cross-checked Wellington-specific house pricing benchmarks against their published figures. |
| Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) | New Zealand's central bank publishes macro housing and mortgage lending data that reflects real demand conditions across the country. | We used RBNZ data to assess affordability conditions and mortgage trends relevant to Wellington buyers. We validated price direction against lending and demand signals from their published reports. |
| CoreLogic NZ | CoreLogic is New Zealand's leading property data provider and regularly publishes suburb-level price analysis used by banks and valuers. | We used CoreLogic for Wellington suburb-level house price estimates and market segmentation. We triangulated median prices and price-per-square-meter figures against their data. |
| Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) | REINZ is the official industry body for New Zealand real estate and publishes monthly transaction data drawn directly from settled sales. | We used REINZ for Wellington median house prices and sales volumes by suburb. We cross-referenced their suburb-level data to validate our neighborhood price rankings. |
| QV NZ (Quotable Value) | QV is a government-linked property valuation company that provides independent suburb price benchmarks across New Zealand. | We used QV for Wellington suburb price comparisons and valuation benchmarks. We validated our relative neighborhood rankings against their independent assessments. |
| Wellington City Council | The local authority publishes planning data, housing supply figures, and neighborhood profiles directly relevant to the Wellington property market. | We used Wellington City Council resources to understand neighborhood characteristics and housing supply constraints. We used this to contextualize the pros and cons for each suburb. |
| OneRoof NZ | OneRoof is a major New Zealand property portal that combines live listings with research-backed suburb insights and recent sales data. | We used OneRoof for recent Wellington suburb trends and buyer profile data. We triangulated price ranges from their listings database against our median price estimates. |
| NZ Herald Property Section | The NZ Herald is the country's largest national newspaper and regularly publishes property market commentary citing REINZ and CoreLogic data directly. | We used NZ Herald coverage for recent Wellington market commentary and trend signals. We verified shifts in buyer demand across Wellington suburbs against their reported findings. |
Don't lose money on your property in Wellington
100% of people who have lost money there have spent less than 1 hour researching the market. We have reviewed everything there is to know. Grab our guide now.
