Cost of Living in a Retirement Village: Why Longridge Residents Don’t Stress So Much About Rising Rates

When the bills aren’t a worry…

Rising rates, climbing insurance premiums and unpredictable bills. Even when your home is paid off, the costs keep coming. For retirees it's getting harder to keep up. That’s why more people are choosing retirement villages like Longridge, where weekly costs are much more predictable, are fixed from age 75, and include key expenses that other retirees have to brace themselves for.

Council rates, house insurance, power bills. They’ve all gone up again this year. A recent RNZ report showed many retirees are now spending $800 or more per month just to keep the lights on and the house insured. And that’s without a mortgage.

At Longridge, that kind of stress isn’t part of the equation.

And this is really worth talking about because yes, you might not have a mortgage, but it’s the planning ahead that’s important. A lot of retirees choose a retirement village for exactly this reason. Cost security and peace of mind.

The True Cost of "Mortgage-Free"

The RNZ analysis (August 2025) broke down how much it costs to live in a paid-off home in different parts of New Zealand: "Retirees struggle as cost of living in even a paid-off house mounts" – RNZ, 25 August 2025

• Carterton: $9,434 per year (nearly $800 per month once you factor in rates, house insurance and electricity)

• Auckland: $6,580 per year (around $548 per month)

• Otorohanga: $5,834 per year (still nearly $500 per month)

  
  

Even Carterton, a small town in the North Island, topped $9,000 a year in basic living costs. So it’s not just the big cities where retirees are feeling the pressure.

And these numbers don’t include unexpected costs. The storm damage, the leaking gutters, repainting the roof. Getting your lawns mowed, hedges trimmed. These things add up fast, especially for those who used to handle it all themselves.

Costs aren’t slowing down either. Hamilton City Council has confirmed a 15.5 percent average rates increase for 2025 to 2026 with more large hikes expected under its Long Term Plan. That's a big jump for anyone, especially for people on a fixed income such as superannuation.

At Longridge, Costs Are More Predictable

When you live at Longridge, your weekly fee of $149 (as of September 2025) covers:

• District and regional council rates

• Water rates

• Exterior house insurance

• Your lawns

• Your garden maintenance

• Exterior villa maintenance

• Access to all shared village amenities

• 24/7 emergency call service

• 24/7 home and away security service

• Village management and staff support

  
  

No surprise rate hikes. No juggling multiple bills. And here's the big one: once you’re 75, your weekly fee is fixed for life. If you're a couple, it's fixed once you're both 75.

Up until you're 75 the fee can increase and is linked to the CPI.

A Real Difference for Retirees

Compare the average $550 to $800 per month that others are paying in traditional homes with the $149 weekly fee at Longridge. That’s $596 per month with most of your housing costs included and and no surprise bills for insurance or rates.

Plus, Longridge buys power in bulk through an embedded network meaning lower electricity costs.

So the only costs on top of your weekly fee are your power, phone, internet and contents insurance.

"Time well spent"

Why This Matters Most for Retirement

When you’re living on a pension or relying mostly on a fixed income, surprises in rates or insurance aren’t just unpredictable, they’re unsettling. They can mean cutting back on the things you enjoy, dipping into savings or putting things off.

At Longridge, having a fixed weekly fee makes it easier to plan. Easier to relax. Easier to focus on what matters: friends, family, travel, hobbies or just enjoying your days without the next bill looming.

For many, the question isn’t "Can I afford a village?" it's "Can I afford not to?"

At 75 there's Much Less Guesswork, Much Less Stress

Living at Longridge means knowing there's no nasty rates or insurance surprises. Not just next week, but next year and the year after that. That makes it easier to plan, easier to relax and easier to enjoy the lifestyle you've worked hard for.

The RNZ report summed it up well. Even mortgage-free retirees are struggling under the weight of rising bills. Longridge takes a lot of that weight off your shoulders.

If you're 75 or getting close, the structure here gives you more certainty. At 75, your weekly fee stays the same. And if you're 65 or older, the weekly fee is still affordable right from day one.

So do get in touch and see what Longridge has to offer