Planning a move to the nation’s capital and looking for the best money can buy? Or perhaps you just enjoy perusing open homes that are a bit more upmarket? Wellington has several suburbs with million-dollar price tags.
While a million dollars sounds like a lot, it wasn’t that long ago that Wellington had a six-figure median sale price. During the peak of 2021, sale prices hit a ten-year high with many houses throughout the city selling for far above a million dollars.
If you’re a first-home buyer, you can breathe a sigh of relief. In 2025, house prices have thankfully corrected themselves. The median sales price has now dropped to a cool $750,000.
Still, that’s up from NZ$395,000 10 years ago. Year on year, houses in Wellington have increased at a rate of about 6.76% each year, or NZ$36,500.
So, it would seem that buying a house in the capital can really pay off. And while there’s plenty of affordable suburbs to be found, there are a few that remain cream-of-the-crop when it comes to snagging a great price.
Read on to find out the most expensive suburbs in Wellington.
Located four kilometres from the city centre, this hilly suburb sits north of the CBD and between Ngaio and Broadmeadows.
There are plenty of family-sized homes in Khandallah, including Multi-storey dwellings and bungalows that were built in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Since the 2010s, there's been an increase in the number of townhouses being built.
As Wellington’s fifth most expensive suburb, the median sales price in Khandallah is at NZ$1.2million in 2025.
If you’re not quite ready to buy in the neighbourhood of Khandallah, you can rent out a place and get a feel for the area.
|
Size |
Cost per week |
|
3-Bedroom house or townhouse |
NZ$750 |
|
Studio or 1-bedroom |
NZ$550 |
Located to the east of Wellington city, Kelburn is a hilly suburb just 1km from the city centre and home to Victoria University.
Kelburn is home to many colonial-era houses, which tend to fall into two categories. Many have sprawling grounds, including gardens and tennis courts and are home to families who attend school nearby.
These homes are often restored and have kept their colonial features, including weatherboard exteriors and porches.
Many large homes are now used as student accommodation. Secondary living areas have been converted into bedrooms. They've also often been altered to have multiple access points, so that several people can live independently at the same property.
Despite this strong student presence, the median asking price for a home in Kelburn is NZ$1.3 million.
Roseneath and Karaka Bays were neck in neck to take the title as the second most expensive suburbs in Wellington. Houses in Roseneath are, however, worth slightly less. Located east of Oriental Bay near the top of Mount Victoria Hill, this suburb has a lot to offer.
There are some downsides to living in Roseneath. Due to its hilly nature, parking is at a premium, and many homes don’t come with garages or off-street parking.
The suburb offers a mixture of colonial homes that are often lovingly restored, mid-century bungalows that take advantage of the views and modern, luxury architecture.
The suburb has a median sale price of NZ$1.43 million.
Despite its million-dollar price tag, the suburb does have a lot of rentals on the market.
|
Size |
Cost per week |
|
3-Bedroom house or townhouse |
NZ$1,000 |
|
Studio or 1-bedroom |
NZ$550 |
Many people are familiar with the beaches in Karaka Bays. The suburb itself is home to Scorching Bay, the Scorching Bay domain, Worser Bay and Karaka Bay. Located on the north-west of the Miramar peninsula, it’s a long, skinny strip of housing that offers some of the best views in Wellington.
Housing in this suburb is dominated by 3-4 bedroom family homes. Many have been built on narrow, windy streets to take advantage of the sea views across the bays.
Homes in Karaka Bays sell for a median price of NZ$1.46 million. This is slightly higher than the well-known suburb of Roseneath.
With limited listings available and both rentals and houses in high demand, it’s easy to see why Karaka Bays retains such a high median sales price.
The most expensive Wellington suburb is Seatoun. Located on the Miramar peninsula, Seatoun is a coastal suburb that offers plenty of charm.
Overall, living in Seatoun means you’ll enjoy the feeling of being removed from the city without the hassle of a long commute home.
Despite being Wellington’s most expensive suburb, there is still a lot of diversity when it comes to housing types. You'll find everything from modern architectural homes to quaint cottages, family-sized bungalows and waterfront homes. Townhouses are limited, and apartments are rare in this in-demand suburb.
In 2025, Seatoun has an average house value of $1.6 million. This is down from its peak of $2.15 million in February 2022.
If you can’t afford to buy a home in Seatoun, there are other ways to enjoy everything this seaside suburb has to offer.
|
Size |
Cost per week |
|
3-4 Bedroom house |
NZ$880 |
|
Studio or 1-bedroom |
NZ$580-610 |
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Wise Move is New Zealand’s leading moving service, helping thousands of customers with home moves, furniture removals, car and motorcycle transport, and more. Since 2017, we’ve been delivering reliable, affordable, and well-reviewed moving services in just a few simple steps. Our focus has always been on making moving as simple and effortless as possible for our customers.
![How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Wellington? [2025]](https://cdn.wisemove.co.nz/image/blog/6435c9fca5aa524ed985d352e3b56a5d.jpeg "How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Wellington? [2025]")
