Brisbane unit vs house annual running costs compared (2026)
Units appear to cost less. Lower purchase price, no garden to maintain. The annual running costs tell a different story. In Chermside, a unit costs $9,463 per year to run. A house in the same suburb costs $7,625. There is no council rate saving to offset that, and the body corporate levy, which most buyers leave out of their annual cost calculations, accounts for most of the difference.
Units cost more to run than houses in the same Brisbane suburb, despite lower purchase prices. In Chermside, a unit costs $9,463 a year to run against $7,625 for a house, a $1,838 gap. Units pay $188 more a year in council rates, and a typical $3,000 body corporate levy opens the gap from there. The gap narrows in older, low-amenity buildings and widens sharply in newer buildings with a pool, gym or concierge.
Key statistics
- Chermside unit, total/yr
- $9,463
- Chermside house, total/yr
- $7,625
- Council rate gap, unit
- $188 more/yr
- Typical body corporate
- $1,500-$7,000/yr
Methodology
Figures are drawn from the Greater Brisbane Running Cost Index: Brisbane City Council rates (2026-27), water and sewerage (Queensland Urban Utilities), a modelled driving commute at the ATO 91c/km rate tapering from 4 return trips a week near the CBD to a floor of 0.5 by about 70km, AI-estimated home insurance, and AI-estimated body corporate levies for units. See the Greater Brisbane Suburb Running Cost Index for the full formula and all 443 suburbs.
The council rate difference between units and houses
Brisbane City Council charges two different rates for residential properties. Houses under the standard residential differential rate pay $950 per year in 2026-27. Units in a Community Titles Scheme pay a minimum rate of $1,138 per year.
The gap is $188 per year and it runs the other way: the Community Titles Scheme minimum sits above the owner-occupier house minimum. Council rates are the one line item people expect units to win on, and at the minimum they do not.
Council rates are the one line item buyers expect to favour units. At the minimum they do not, and every other line item is equal or higher.
| Property type | Annual rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| House (owner-occupied) | $950 | - |
| Unit in CTS (owner-occupied) | $1,138 | Unit pays $188 more |
Source: brisbane.qld.gov.au, rates schedule 2026-27. General rate only, excludes waste and cleansing charges.
Body corporate, the cost that decides it
Body corporate levies are mandatory annual fees paid by unit owners to fund the management, maintenance, and insurance of the shared building and common areas. Every owner in a strata scheme pays them. They are not optional and cannot be negotiated away.
For a typical Brisbane middle-ring apartment building, the annual body corporate levy sits between $2,000 and $4,000 per year. For a newer inner-city building with a pool, gym, and concierge, the figure rises to $5,000 or beyond. The SuburbCost estimate for a representative Chermside unit is $3,000 per year, approximately the mid-range for a post-2000 low-rise.
At $3,000 per year in body corporate, the unit owner in Chermside pays:
- $188 more in council rates than the house owner
- $3,000 more in body corporate than the house owner ($0 for houses)
- Net extra cost: $3,188 per year on these two line items alone
The body corporate levy more than erases the rates saving by a factor of nearly six to one.
| Building type | Annual body corporate estimate |
|---|---|
| Inner-city high-rise, post-2000, pool/gym | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Inner-city low-rise or pre-2000 block | $2,500 – $4,000 |
| Middle-ring low-rise, post-2000 | $2,000 – $3,500 |
| Outer-ring newer development, basic amenities | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| House (any suburb) | $0 |
Body corporate figures are AI-estimated and disclosed as such on every SuburbCost suburb page. The actual levy for a specific property must be confirmed with the body corporate, request the last three years of financials as part of your due diligence before purchase.
The full annual cost comparison, Chermside unit vs house
The most complete comparison available from SuburbCost's confirmed data is Chermside, which shows both dwelling types in detail.
| Component | House | Unit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $950 | $1,138 | Unit pays $188 more |
| Water & sewerage | $1,900 | $1,900 | Same |
| Driving commute | $2,925 | $2,925 | Same |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $500 | Unit saves $1,350 (contents only) |
| Body corporate | $0 | $3,000 | Unit pays $3,000 more |
| Total, driving | $7,625 | $9,463 | Unit costs $1,838 more/year |
| Total, public transport | $4,892 | $6,730 | Unit costs $1,838 more/year |
Source: SuburbCost Chermside suburb page, confirmed government data July 2026. Building insurance for units is estimated as contents-only at $500, the body corporate insurance covers the building structure. Body corporate is AI-estimated.
The $1,838 annual gap means a unit buyer in Chermside pays approximately $153 more per month in running costs than a house buyer, before any mortgage difference is considered. Over ten years, with 3% annual growth in body corporate and rates, this difference compounds to roughly $21,100.
Where the unit calculation can shift
Three scenarios change the unit vs house comparison materially.
Older buildings with lower body corporate: A well-run pre-1990 low-rise unit block with no lift, no pool, and simple common areas can carry a body corporate levy of $1,200 to $1,800 per year. At those levels the gap narrows but does not close. On an $1,800 levy the unit runs about $638 more a year than the house, and even on $1,200 it is still $38 more.
High-amenity new buildings: An inner-city apartment with pool, concierge, and gymnasium will carry levies of $5,000 to $7,000 per year. At $6,000 body corporate, a unit costs over $5,000 more per year to run than a comparable house in the same suburb. The lower purchase price does not offset this gap over most ownership periods.
Buildings in flood-prone suburbs: Units in flood-affected areas carry higher body corporate insurance costs, which flow through to owner levies. The body corporate insurance component is one of the main drivers of levy increases after major flood events. Inner-city units near the Brisbane River saw levy increases following the 2011 and 2022 floods that took years to moderate.
Electricity runs the other way: One cost that favours units is electricity. With less floor area to heat and cool and shared walls, a unit typically uses around 25% less power than a comparable house. For a two-person Brisbane household that is roughly $1,500 a year in a unit against about $2,000 in a house, a $500 saving that partly offsets the body corporate levy. Electricity scales with the number of occupants rather than the suburb, so it moves with household size, not location. SuburbCost's free report estimates it for both dwelling types from Australian Energy Regulator benchmarks and lets you set your own occupant count.
What to ask before buying a Brisbane unit
Running cost comparisons start with the body corporate levy, but due diligence goes further. Before purchasing any Brisbane unit, request:
- The current body corporate levy for the specific lot (levies differ by lot entitlement)
- The last three years of body corporate financial statements
- The sinking fund balance and the 10-year capital works plan
- Any current or pending special levies for major building works
- The body corporate insurance premium and what it covers
A low advertised body corporate levy can mask a depleted sinking fund with deferred maintenance. Special levies, called when the sinking fund cannot cover major repairs, can add thousands to a year's costs without warning. The annual levy is the starting figure. The sinking fund health is the real measure.
See the current Brisbane City Council rates for houses and units, and cost any suburb in the area →
Frequently asked questions
Are units cheaper to run than houses in Brisbane?
No, units typically cost more to run annually than houses in the same Brisbane suburb. In Chermside, a unit costs $9,463 per year versus $7,625 for a house, a $1,838 difference. Units pay $188 more in BCC council rates, and typically $3,000 or more in body corporate levies, which houses do not pay.
How much does body corporate cost in Brisbane in 2026?
Body corporate levies in Brisbane range from approximately $1,500 to over $7,000 per year, depending on building age, size, and facilities. Inner-city high-rise buildings with pool and gym typically charge $4,500 to $7,000. Middle-ring low-rise apartments charge $2,000 to $3,500. The actual levy for a specific unit must be confirmed with the body corporate before purchase. SuburbCost figures are AI-estimated and disclosed as such on every suburb page.
What council rates do units pay in Brisbane City Council?
Units in BCC Community Titles Schemes pay a minimum residential rate of $1,138 per year in 2026-27. Houses have a minimum of $950. The unit minimum is $188 higher, so council rates are not a saving for units at the floor.
Should I buy a unit or a house in Brisbane based on running costs?
Running costs favour houses for most Brisbane buyers. Units pay slightly more in council rates, and more again overall once body corporate levies are counted. The exception is older buildings with low body corporate and no major capital works pending. Total cost of ownership depends on purchase price, mortgage repayments, maintenance responsibilities, and lifestyle factors beyond running costs. SuburbCost covers the running cost comparison; consult a buyer's agent for a complete picture.
Compare unit vs house running costs in your suburb
Every SuburbCost suburb page shows both house and unit annual running costs side by side. Use the dwelling type toggle to see how body corporate and council rates change the total for your suburb of interest.
Compare suburb costs →Data sources
Council rates: Brisbane City Council 2026-27. Water and sewerage: Queensland Urban Utilities 2025-26. Driving commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate (91c/km), with modelled trip frequency tapering from 4 return trips a week near the CBD to a floor of 0.5 by about 70km (see the Greater Brisbane Suburb Running Cost Index for the full formula). Home insurance and body corporate levies: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimates. Data period: council rates 2026-27, water and commute 2025-26.
Cite this data
SuburbCost data is free to cite with attribution. Please link to this page as the source.