Ōtepoti · Otago · South Island
Moving to
Dunedin
A hilly city on the Otago coast, home to New Zealand's first university, with a major new hospital under construction.
- 131,800people in the city (June 2024, provisional)
- $525/wkmedian rent, all homes (June 2026)
- 1,780sunshine hours a year (about)
- 20,000students at the University of Otago (listing, undated)
Try the quiz
Is Dunedin right for you?
Three quick questions about evenings, work and winters. It is only a lifestyle check, and it does not say anything about a visa outcome.
0%
Dunedin could suit you
You like hills, a research-and-study atmosphere and a cool climate, and Dunedin offers all three. Look at the job and visa side separately.
Maybe, with some trade-offs
Dunedin fits some of what you want. Read the notes on winter housing and the weather below, then compare it with another city.
Another city may suit you better
Dunedin does not look like the closest match right now. Browse the other city guides, or book a chat to talk about what you are after.
What Dunedin is known for
Swipe through the industries behind the jobs.
Work in Dunedin
Dunedin's economy leans on knowledge and care: a university, a regional hospital and a cluster of technology firms. DunedinNZ says professional, scientific and technical services grew 16.6% over the year to 2022 and made the biggest contribution to the city's growth. That is now a few years old, so treat it as background and not as today's job market.
The hospital project is also a building job, and DunedinNZ says more than half of the students who intern through its JobDUN programme gain work afterwards, though it gives no date for that figure. A job is only possible if your visa allows it, so start with the work visa guide.
The weather
Tap a season. The bars show the average daytime high for each month.
18°
average daytime high, December to February
Cool for summer, with highs around 19° in January and February.
15°
average daytime high, March to May
Highs fall from 18° in March to 13° in May.
11°
average daytime high, June to August
Cold by day, with highs of 10 to 11° and July the lowest at 10°. Overnight temperatures are not shown here.
15°
average daytime high, September to November
Slow to warm, rising from 13° in September to 16° in November.
- 19°Jan
- 19°Feb
- 18°Mar
- 15°Apr
- 13°May
- 11°Jun
- 10°Jul
- 11°Aug
- 13°Sep
- 15°Oct
- 16°Nov
- 18°Dec
Source: NIWA climate averages 1991–2020 for Dunedin (mean daily maximum, rounded; seasonal figures are the average of three months, rounded). NIWA's 1991–2020 average sunshine for Dunedin is 1,775.5 hours a year.
Around Dunedin
Swipe →
What life is like
Dunedin began as a planned Scottish settlement. Te Ara records that the first emigrant ship reached the Otago coast in March 1848, and that the settlers' name for the town, Dunedin, is a Gaelic version of Edinburgh. Today it is a hilly city where student houses, shops and green hillsides sit close together.
Winter housing deserves a question or two. A 2012 report on migrant services, Settling In Dunedin, recorded cold, poorly insulated older homes as a major concern for newcomers. That is more than a decade old, so ask any landlord about heating and insulation today. Median rent is $525 a week across all homes in Dunedin City (June 2026).
What locals love
- Hills, harbour and coast all close together
- The University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic on the doorstep
- A median rent of $525 a week for all homes (June 2026)
- The beaches and hills of the Otago Peninsula nearby
Good to know
- Winter daytime highs are only 10 to 11°
- Older homes can be cold, as migrants told a 2012 report
- The new hospital is still being built, with steel erection due from July 2026
- Queenstown is about 285 km away (Te Ara), so other big centres are a long trip
- Several employer and growth figures are undated or from 2021 to 2022
Visas, study and community
Which visas fit
People come to Dunedin to study, to work in health, research or tech, and to join family. The usual routes are a student visa, a work visa with an accredited employer, and partner or family visas. Your own situation decides what fits, and the rules change, so confirm with Immigration New Zealand.
Work visas → · Study visas → · Partner and family → · Residence →
Costing a move to Dunedin? Work out the INZ fee for your visa with the visa fee calculator.
Immigration New Zealand runs a free information service for new migrants. Its contact centre is on 0508 558 855 (New Zealand landlines only) or +64 9 914 4100 from mobiles and overseas. Most people apply online.
Study
The University of Otago's Dunedin campus is at 362 Leith Street. Its Study with New Zealand listing says it was founded in 1869, has about 20,000 students, and also has campuses in Christchurch, Wellington and Invercargill.
Otago Polytechnic has its Dunedin campus at 90 Forth Street, and DunedinNZ says the two institutions offer degree and vocational pathways. Check each website for courses, fees and entry rules.
Community
The Dunedin Multicultural Council, which also uses the short name DMEC, calls itself the voice of ethnic groups in Dunedin. Its website lists a Women's Council (with Chai & Chat), a Men's Council, an Arts and Music Council and a Business Council, plus a way to become a member.
The council is also listed in the Ministry for Ethnic Communities directory.
You can also ask questions in our community forum →
Talk to us from anywhere
You do not need to be in Dunedin to book a free 20-minute chat by phone or video. We explain things in general terms and do not give personal immigration advice.
Book a free chatLast checked