Dunedin is arguably the world’s greatest student town — the University of Otago’s 21,000 students make up nearly 20% of the city’s population. The result is a student culture that’s woven into the fabric of the city, legendary flatting parties, and the cheapest student housing in New Zealand.
North Dunedin (The Student Quarter)
Everything within a 1 km radius of the University of Otago clocktower is student territory. Victorian villas, many with six bedrooms and names like “The Embassy” or “The Ritz” — Dunedin’s student flats have personalities and reputations that span decades. Rooms NZD 100–200/week — the cheapest university-adjacent housing in the English-speaking world outside maybe Sheffield.
North East Valley
Just over the hill from campus, cheaper and slightly further. A 20-minute walk or 5-minute bus. Gardens are bigger, streets are quieter. Rooms NZD 90–180/week.
South Dunedin & St Kilda
Flat, near the beach. St Kilda has the famous saltwater pool and great fish and chips. 10–15 minute bus to campus. Rooms NZD 100–190/week.
The Dunedin Flatting Experience
Dunedin’s student flats are an institution. The Hyde Street Keg Party, the Castle Street couch fires of the 90s, the annual Undie 500 — this is student culture in its purest form. The flats are cold (invest in an Oodie and an electric blanket), the landlords are used to students, and you’ll make friends for life.
Just check the flat’s Healthy Homes compliance — Dunedin has some of the worst housing stock in NZ, and mold is a real problem in older villas.
FAQ
Is Dunedin really that cheap? Yes. A room in a Dunedin student flat costs less per week than a hostel bed in Queenstown. What’s the weather like? Cold. Winter temperatures 0–8°C with biting southerly winds. It’s famously the coldest major city in NZ. Good heating and insulation matter. How do I find a flat? The Otago University Students’ Association runs a flatting database. Facebook groups like “Otago Flatting Goods” are active.