The Ashburton District Council rates are the fourth lowest in the country, according to the latest report from New Zealand Taxpayers' Union.
Ashburton's average residential rate for 2017/18 year was $1850, compared to the national average of $2368.
The districts below Ashburton on the rates table were Grey ($1846), Mackenzie ($1796) and Southland ($1737).
Timaru was 11th cheapest with $2062, while Auckland topped the rates table on $3387. No figures were supplied for Buller and Waikato district.
The Taxpayers' Union report shows Ashburton District with a population of 34,500 and 15,241 ratepayers and covering an area of 6183 square kilometres.
The total operating expenses of Ashburton District Council per household was $5928, ranking it 20th out of 66 councils.
Debt liabilities per household in Ashburton in the 2017/18 period was $3847, compared to $25,402 in Christchurch City.
Some 38 of Ashburton council's staff of 308 earned more than $100,000, with the chief executive taking home a salary of $315,000.
