Economy, jobs and prices in Christchurch, New Zealand: official figures
The median personal income of adults in Christchurch was NZ$40,400 a year at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: NZ$41,500). That is 3rd lowest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
What is the median household income in Christchurch?
The median household income in Christchurch was NZ$90,600 a year in 2023, up from NZ$73,900 at the 2018 Census (New Zealand in 2023: NZ$97,000). That is 3rd lowest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Christchurch?
At the 2023 Census, 64.6% of people aged 15 and over in Christchurch were employed (full-time or part-time) and the unemployment rate was 4.1% of the labour force (New Zealand: 64.6% employed and 4.4% unemployed). That is 3rd lowest unemployment of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Christchurch?
Stats NZ counted 237,900 employees working in Christchurch in February 2025, which is 57 for every 100 residents. That is 2nd most jobs per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Christchurch?
There were 48,228 businesses (geographic units) in Christchurch in February 2025, or 115 per 1,000 residents. That is 4th lowest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Christchurch?
The biggest industries for employed residents of Christchurch at the 2023 Census were professional, scientific and technical services (11.3%), health care and social assistance (10.5%), construction (10.3%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Christchurch work from home?
At the 2023 Census, 13.0% of employed residents of Christchurch mainly worked at home on census day. That is 3rd lowest share of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many new homes are being built in Christchurch?
Councils consented 4,391 new dwellings in Christchurch in the year ended March 2026, compared with 3,897 the year before (10.5 per 1,000 residents). That is the most consents per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Christchurch?
The median weekly rent paid by households in Christchurch was NZ$415 at the 2023 Census, up from NZ$350 in 2018 (New Zealand: NZ$450). That is 2nd lowest rent of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people own their home in Christchurch?
64.8% of households in Christchurch owned their home or held it in a family trust at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 66.0%). That is 4th lowest home ownership of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many households in Christchurch have no car?
7.1% of households in Christchurch had no motor vehicle at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 6.3%). That is 4th highest share without a vehicle of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Christchurch have internet access?
90.9% of people in Christchurch had access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 90.5%). That is 4th lowest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Christchurch compares with other cities in New Zealand
Median personal income of adults (2023 Census)
Christchurch ranks 6 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median personal income of adults |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lower Hutt | NZ$47,800 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$44,700 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$42,200 |
| 5 | Tauranga | NZ$42,100 |
| 6 | Christchurch | NZ$40,400 |
| 7 | Whangarei District | NZ$36,500 |
| 8 | Dunedin | NZ$33,500 |
Unemployment rate (2023 Census)
Christchurch ranks 7 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Auckland | 4.8% |
| 4 | Whangarei District | 4.6% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 4.4% |
| 6 | Napier-Hastings | 4.2% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 4.1% |
| 8 | Wellington | 4.0% |
| 9 | Tauranga | 4.0% |
Employees working in the area per 100 residents (February 2025)
Christchurch ranks 2 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employees working in the area per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | 80 |
| 2 | Christchurch | 57 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 55 |
| 4 | Napier-Hastings | 50 |
| 5 | Auckland | 48 |
| 6 | Tauranga | 46 |
| 7 | Dunedin | 46 |
Median weekly rent (2023 Census)
Christchurch ranks 7 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tauranga | NZ$550 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$540 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$465 |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | NZ$450 |
| 6 | Whangarei District | NZ$420 |
| 7 | Christchurch | NZ$415 |
| 8 | Dunedin | NZ$400 |
More on Christchurch: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Christchurch City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d5b1addd1fc…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
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