With a population of 412,000 people, Christchurch is the South Island’s largest city. Known for its beautiful gardens, the Avon River, and being a hub of culture and heritage, the city is also recognised for having a decent stock of affordable housing. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t suburbs known for their million-dollar listings.
We explore the most expensive suburbs in the Garden City. Let's get into it.
You can’t talk about Christchurch’s housing market without mentioning the rebuilding of the city. After a devastating earthquake in 2011, much of the city’s central business and retail district was destroyed. Many seaside and riverside suburbs were affected by liquefaction. This is a natural phenomenon where shaking causes silty or sandy soil to liquefy.
While many homes and businesses had to be bulldozed due to damage, the city entered a decade where rebuilding homes and infrastructure was a priority. This focus on rebuilding resulted in the addition of an extra 10,000 homes to the area compared to ten years ago.
Around 21,000 people left the city in the seven years after the earthquake. This migration loss, combined with a house-building boom, means that fifteen years on, Christchurch’s house prices have stayed lower than New Zealand’s other major centres.
In 2025, the average house price in Christchurch was NZ$752,357. Comparatively, it’s significantly less than Auckland’s average of NZ$1,245,626 and Wellington’s average house price of NZ$937,962.
Still, if you’re looking for the best that the city has to offer, Christchurch has no shortage of stunning and exclusive suburbs to explore. At the top of the property ladder is Scarborough, a suburb that continues to top the list of Christchurch’s most expensive suburbs.
This coastal hillside suburb is located between the popular swimming and surfing village of Sumner and the cliffside suburb of Taylors Mistake. With stunning ocean views, access to several surf breaks and many architecturally designed homes, it’s easy to see why this suburb is so popular.
Today, it holds an average house value of around NZ$1.79 million, making it the city’s most expensive suburb.
Scarborough’s appeal comes from its unique combination of coastal lifestyle and natural beauty. Living here means uninterrupted views across Pegasus Bay and out to the Kaikōura ranges. Not to mention, easy access to surfing, swimming, or walking trails.
On top of offering a great mix of panoramic views and outdoor activities, it’s also close to the cafés and restaurants of Sumner Beach and is only a 25-minute drive from the central city.
Scarborough is a relatively new suburb, so you won’t find any wooden character homes or historical villas here, like you might in other expensive Christchurch suburbs. The houses are typically modern, architecturally designed multi-level homes that take full advantage of the hillside and ocean views.
As it’s a hillside suburb, many houses have limited parking. However, driveways and parking decks are common. Some houses even have funiculars. These are personal cable cars that make it easier to get from the street to the house without having to take the stairs.
Scarborough falls within the zone for Sumner School, a popular primary school. It’s worth noting that there is no high school in the suburb. The closest zoned secondary school is Te Aratai College in Phillipstown, south-west of the CBD. Many families choose to send their children to private secondary schools.
The suburb offers immediate access to the outdoors. Surfing at Sumner Beach and walking or cycling along the coastal tracks in the hills are all accessible.
With an average property value of NZ$1.79 million, Scarborough commands the highest prices in Christchurch.
As an established hillside suburb, land is scarcer, and building can be expensive, which only increases a home's value in the area.
It’s not just hillside suburbs that make up the most expensive suburbs in Christchurch. Located just west of Christchurch’s central city, Fendalton is an address that has always been associated with prestige and old money.
It has an average house value of NZ$1.70 million, making it the second-most expensive suburb in Christchurch.
Fendalton is a city-fringe suburb that still feels private even though it's located so close to the CBD. Here, the streets are wide and leafy. Small streams can be found around the suburb and run adjacent to many properties. It’s also just minutes from Hagley Park and the CBD.
Fendalton is known for its large, architecturally designed homes. There’s a mixture of large mid-century and modern houses, but what most of them have in common is their size. Many homes are set on large sections designed with luxury and privacy in mind. Many homes have tall gates, are set back off the road and have well-landscaped gardens to increase privacy.
Fendalton is a popular choice for many families as it’s zoned for some of the best schools in the city. It’s close to the popular public schools of Christchurch Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools. Its location also provides easy access to the nearby private schools of St Andrew’s College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, and St Margaret’s College. This combination of schooling options makes it especially popular with families.
Living here means enjoying easy access to Hagley Park, which has tennis courts, cricket grounds and plenty of green space to run around. It’s also close to the shopping and restaurants in Merivale and Riccarton.
With an average property value of NZ$1.70 million, Fendalton remains one of Christchurch’s priciest addresses. Large family homes and the best school zones mean it will always be a desirable place to live.
To the south of the city is Christchurch’s third most expensive suburb, Kennedys Bush. Located on the Port Hills, it offers a rare blend of rural living with proximity to the city.
The average house value sits at NZ$1.65 million, placing it firmly among the city’s most expensive addresses.
The suburb has everything you could want from country living. Here you’ll find peaceful roads, hillside views, birdlife and walking and mountain biking tracks. While it feels semi-rural, the suburb is still within easy reach of schools, shopping centres, and the Christchurch Southern Motorway.
Homes here are typically large, modern builds with well-designed vantage points to capture expansive views across the plains to the Southern Alps. Many homes are built as lifestyle blocks, with enough land to have a horse or a small number of non-domestic animals. These modern homes are also designed to maximise dining inside and entertainment outside, with pools and large sun decks being popular.
Kennedys Bush is zoned for Halswell School and Cashmere High School, which are both popular public schools. This accessibility to some of the best public high schools also makes it a popular and practical choice for families who value education.
Here, the Port Hills tracks, Halswell Quarry Park, and the wider Banks Peninsula are all right on your doorstep. Kennedy’s Bush is an ideal location for hiking, mountain biking, or if you love to soak up the views.
Still, the suburb is close to Halswell Village, where you can find supermarkets, cafés, and medical services. The city centre is also well within commuting distance.
With an average property value of NZ$1.65 million, Kennedys Bush is one of Christchurch’s most premium lifestyle suburbs. The large sections of land and proximity to some of the best public schools can make this a competitive place to live.
Just north of Christchurch’s CBD is Merivale, one of the city’s oldest suburbs. While it's close to Fendalton, here homes are smaller and have retained more of their character. The suburb offers a great mix of heritage charm and city convenience.
With an average house price of NZ$1.47 million, it sits firmly among Christchurch’s most desirable suburbs.
Location, lifestyle, and character can all be found in Merivale. Its location means that commuters can often walk or bike to work or the city, or Hagley Park. It offers urban convenience in a quaint, leafy, residential setting. It even has its own shopping district, which includes fashionable boutiques, trendy cafes and eateries and even a family-friendly local pub.
Merivale is characterised by its mix of grand villas, Edwardian homes, and newer architecturally designed builds. Here, side streets are often narrow and tree-lined, which gives the suburb an established and neighbourly feel. The suburb also has many restored cottages and a few newly built townhouses. High-density living is rare, giving the area a more exclusive, residential atmosphere.
Merivale falls within the zones for Elmwood Normal School, Heaton Intermediate, Christchurch Boys’ High and Christchurch Girls’ High.
It’s also within easy reach of popular private schools, including St Andrew’s College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, and St Margaret’s College.
These options make it one of the most sought-after family suburbs in Christchurch.
Merivale is as much about lifestyle as location. Merivale Mall offers a great mix of shopping, fine dining, and speciality grocers. With easy access to Hagley Park, restaurants on Victoria Street, and the city centre, the suburb offers a great mix of relaxed and residential.
With an average property value of NZ$1.47 million, Merivale remains one of Christchurch’s most exclusive suburbs.
Its popularity comes down to the combination of great schools, a central location and a mix of heritage and larger homes.
Another Port Hills suburb to make the list is Richmond Hill. Located between Clifton and Sumner Beach, like Scarborough, this coastal hillside suburb combines spectacular sea views with a laidback lifestyle that can’t be beat.
The average house value sits at NZ$1.43 million, placing it fifth on the list of Christchurch’s most expensive suburbs.
Richmond Hill has the same appeal as its neighbouring suburbs. Building in the hills allows for fantastic views across Pegasus Bay, while being close to Sumner Village gives this suburb a community feel. It’s also a newer suburb than Scarborough and Sumner. Many plots of land are still for sale to the south and east of this still-establishing suburb.
As a newer suburb, Richmond Hill is home to many modern, architecturally designed homes. Expansive glass frontages, multi-level decks, and landscaped outdoor spaces are common. While there are a handful of older baches and more modest homes, the suburb is primarily defined by newer properties built to take advantage of the views.
Richmond Hill falls within the zones for Sumner School, a popular primary school. However, there is no high school within the suburb. As a result, many parents opt to send their children to private high schools that are slightly further away.
The suburb is perfect for those who value a blend of coastal and hillside living, but want the convenience of living near the city. Residents can walk or cycle in the Port Hills, swim or surf at Sumner Beach, or enjoy the cafés and restaurants of the Village just minutes away. Christchurch’s city centre is still accessible in under half an hour.
With an average property value of NZ$1.43 million, Richmond Hill ranks fifth among Christchurch’s most expensive suburbs.
Plots of land are currently for sale, which may make it more accessible to build rather than buy a home here.
Whether you’re relocating to a character villa in Merivale or a modern build in the Scarborough hills, hiring professional movers can make your move a stress-free experience.
At Wise Move, we make it easy to find and book trusted professional movers in Christchurch to help you on your big day. From looking after your precious belongings to navigating steep driveways, they can do it all.
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