Christchurch, New Zealand
Living in Riccarton, Christchurch
University suburb west of CBD. Canterbury University, Riccarton Bush, shopping mall, and student-friendly.
A one-bedroom in Riccarton rents for about $1,600 - $1,900/month — a safe area (safety 4/5), roughly 15 minutes from Christchurch center by bus.
Commute to Center
15 min
bus
Safety Rating
4/5
SafeVibe
universitystudentsshopping
Rent in Riccarton
Monthly rent in NZD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,400 - $1,700/mo | $1,600 - $1,900/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,800 - $2,200/mo | $2,000 - $2,400/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,200 - $2,700/mo | $2,400 - $2,900/mo |
How Riccarton compares in Christchurch
Within AffordWhere's Christchurch dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $1,750/month — roughly 3% below the city median, and among the more affordable of the 6 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $2,000 - $2,400/month and three-bedrooms $2,400 - $2,900/month on second-hand contracts. At 15 minutes to the center by bus, it sits farther out than most Christchurch areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the university, students, shopping tags, it may suit value-conscious renters and students.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Sydenham. For a shorter commute, see Christchurch CBD.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps Metro Lounge as the nearest rail stop, Shand Crescent Reserve as nearby green space and PAK'nSAVE as the nearest supermarket around the Riccarton reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows many cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Riccarton, Christchurch?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Riccarton costs $1,600 - $1,900/month (second-hand contract) or $1,400 - $1,700/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $2,000 - $2,400/month, and a 3-bedroom from $2,400 - $2,900/month.
- Is Riccarton safe for expats?
- Riccarton has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.
- How long is the commute from Riccarton to Christchurch center?
- The commute from Riccarton to Christchurch city center takes approximately 15 minutes by bus.
- What is Riccarton like to live in?
- University suburb west of CBD. Canterbury University, Riccarton Bush, shopping mall, and student-friendly. In our data it is tagged as university, students, shopping.
Other neighborhoods in Christchurch
Christchurch CBD
5 min walk to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
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Merivale
10 min bus to center
1BR from $1,800/mo
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Addington
10 min bus to center
1BR from $1,600/mo
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St Albans
12 min bus to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
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Sydenham
10 min bus to center
1BR from $1,500/mo
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