Housing / Affordability
Who can afford housing?
48.4%of renting households spend 30% or more of their after-tax income on housing (year to June 2025)
30.7%of renters spend 40% or more
26.8%of owners spend 30% or more, including those with no mortgage
34.7%of all households spend 30% or more
Housing costs as a share of income
Who is under pressure
Households spending 30% or more, and 40% or more, of income on housing
30% or more40% or more95% confidence interval
Spending 30% or more, over time
RentersAll householdsOwners
Average weekly housing costs
By region
Housing costs as a share of household income, year to June 2025
About these numbers
Housing costs are rent, mortgage payments (interest and principal), property rates and building insurance, against household disposable (after-tax) income.
30% of income is a common rule of thumb for "unaffordable"; it's harsher on low-income households, for whom the same share leaves much less to live on. Mortgage principal is counted as a cost here, though it builds wealth.
The survey changed: from 2025 the figures come from the Household Income and Living Survey. Your calculator result is compared with households of your tenure.
Sources: Stats NZ Household income and housing cost statistics, Year ended June 2025; MBIE rental bond data for current rents.