Most expensive council rates in Victoria, all 79 councils ranked
Nillumbik Shire has the highest average residential rate in Victoria at $2,810 a year. Hindmarsh Shire has the lowest at $700. 6 of the 10 dearest councils are in Greater Melbourne, and across Melbourne's 22 Metro councils alone the gap between dearest and cheapest is $1,396.
Nillumbik Shire has the highest council rates in Victoria, at an average residential rate of $2,810 for 2026-27, followed by Borough of Queenscliffe at $2,582 and Boroondara City at $2,459. The lowest is Hindmarsh Shire at $700. Across all 79 councils the median is $1,714. Each figure is the council's residential rate revenue in its 2026-27 budget divided by its residential assessments, plus any municipal charge.
Key statistics
- Councils ranked
- 79
- Highest
- $2,810 (Nillumbik Shire)
- Lowest
- $700 (Hindmarsh Shire)
- Median
- $1,714
- Melbourne metro median
- $1,731
- Regional City median
- $1,792
Methodology
Every figure on this page is the council's average residential rate for 2026-27: residential general rate revenue in its 2026-27 budget, divided by its number of residential assessments, plus the municipal charge where the council sets one. Waste and other service charges are excluded, and so is the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. Yarra Ranges Shire's figure comes from its draft budget and Banyule City's figure comes from its proposed budget, the latest version available, so the adopted figure may differ.
It is an average across a council's homes, not what any one owner pays. Victorian councils rate on capital improved value, so a home worth more than the area's typical property pays more than its council's figure.
Until November 2026 this page ranked the audited 2024-25 average rate per property assessment (Local Government Performance Reporting Framework indicator FIM-E4). That figure counts every rateable property, commercial and industrial included, which put councils with a large business base, such as Greater Dandenong, high in the ranking for reasons that have little to do with what households pay. The residential figure is newer and closer to a home's bill. Each council's own page still shows its FIM-E4 figure as context.
This measure cannot be compared with the figures SuburbCost publishes for the other two states. New South Wales figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by the rate peg. Queensland councils publish a minimum residential general rate, a floor rather than a typical bill. Three states, three statistics, ranked separately.
Victoria caps rates through the Fair Go Rates System, set at 2.75% for 2026-27 after 3% for 2025-26. The cap applies to a council's average rate per rateable property rather than to any single notice. No property prices, medians or capital growth figures appear anywhere on this page.
The short version
- Nillumbik Shire is highest at $2,810, Hindmarsh Shire lowest at $700, a gap of $2,110 across the state
- The median Victorian council's average residential rate is $1,714
- Regional City councils have the highest median of any group at $1,792, and Small Shire councils the lowest at $1,612
- 6 of the 10 dearest councils are in Greater Melbourne
- Inside metropolitan Melbourne the range runs $1,063 to $2,459, a spread of $1,396
Top 10 most expensive council rates in Victoria
| Rank | Council | Group | Average residential rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nillumbik Shire | Interface | $2,810 |
| 2 | Borough of Queenscliffe | Small Shire | $2,582 |
| 3 | Boroondara City | Metro | $2,459 |
| 4 | Surf Coast Shire | Large Shire | $2,359 |
| 5 | Bayside City | Metro | $2,172 |
| 6 | Yarra Ranges Shire | Interface | $2,162 |
| 7 | Macedon Ranges Shire | Large Shire | $2,141 |
| 8 | South Gippsland Shire | Large Shire | $2,104 |
| 9 | Moonee Valley City | Metro | $2,076 |
| 10 | Manningham City | Metro | $2,065 |
That's your council's rates. Now see what a home in your suburb costs to run each year →
Every Victorian suburb, costed
Council rates are one line of what a home costs to run. SuburbCost now costs 1,323 Victorian suburbs and towns: rates, water, the commute, estimated insurance and estimated electricity. Browse Melbourne suburbs, regional Victoria, or get a free report comparing up to five.
The 10 cheapest Victorian councils
| Rank | Council | Group | Average residential rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Hindmarsh Shire | Small Shire | $700 |
| 78 | Yarriambiack Shire | Small Shire | $701 |
| 77 | Loddon Shire | Small Shire | $813 |
| 76 | Greater Dandenong City | Metro | $1,063 |
| 75 | Pyrenees Shire | Small Shire | $1,220 |
| 74 | Buloke Shire | Small Shire | $1,239 |
| 73 | Brimbank City | Metro | $1,253 |
| 72 | Moyne Shire | Large Shire | $1,289 |
| 71 | Melbourne City | Metro | $1,322 |
| 70 | Southern Grampians Shire | Large Shire | $1,334 |
The 22 Metro councils, ranked within Victoria
The median Metro council's average residential rate is $1,731. The spread across them is $1,396, against $2,110 across the whole state. For Melbourne taken as the 31 Metro and Interface councils together, see average council rates in Melbourne.
| # | Council | Average residential rate | Rank in Victoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boroondara City | $2,459 | 3 of 79 |
| 2 | Bayside City | $2,172 | 5 of 79 |
| 3 | Moonee Valley City | $2,076 | 9 of 79 |
| 4 | Manningham City | $2,065 | 10 of 79 |
| 5 | Maribyrnong City | $2,035 | 11 of 79 |
| 6 | Merri-bek City | $1,962 | 15 of 79 |
| 7 | Hobsons Bay City | $1,949 | 17 of 79 |
| 8 | Kingston City | $1,869 | 22 of 79 |
| 9 | Banyule City | $1,800 | 29 of 79 |
| 10 | Frankston City | $1,767 | 33 of 79 |
| 11 | Yarra City | $1,748 | 36 of 79 |
| 12 | Glen Eira City | $1,714 | 40 of 79 |
| 13 | Stonnington City | $1,687 | 45 of 79 |
| 14 | Maroondah City | $1,671 | 48 of 79 |
| 15 | Port Phillip City | $1,661 | 49 of 79 |
| 16 | Darebin City | $1,653 | 50 of 79 |
| 17 | Whitehorse City | $1,556 | 60 of 79 |
| 18 | Monash City | $1,488 | 62 of 79 |
| 19 | Knox City | $1,405 | 67 of 79 |
| 20 | Melbourne City | $1,322 | 71 of 79 |
| 21 | Brimbank City | $1,253 | 73 of 79 |
| 22 | Greater Dandenong City | $1,063 | 76 of 79 |
Melbourne holds 6 of Victoria's 10 dearest councils
Grouping the 79 councils the way the state does shows where the money is.
| Group | Councils | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional City | 10 | $1,792 | $1,624 to $1,992 |
| Large Shire | 19 | $1,791 | $1,289 to $2,359 |
| Metro | 22 | $1,731 | $1,063 to $2,459 |
| Interface | 9 | $1,706 | $1,483 to $2,810 |
| Small Shire | 19 | $1,612 | $700 to $2,582 |
Regional City councils carry the highest median, and the Melbourne median of $1,714 is level with the state median of $1,714. The widest spreads sit inside groups rather than between them, so a council's own settings matter more than its type. A council that collects more from business ratepayers can hold its residential average down, and a shire with few ratepayers and long roads spreads its costs over fewer homes.
Every Victorian council, with its own page
Each council below has its own page carrying the same figure, where it sits in the state, how it compares with the councils Victoria groups it with, and how the rate cap works. Ranked most to least expensive.
| Rank | Council | Group | Average residential rate | vs Victorian median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nillumbik Shire Council | Interface | $2,810 | $1,096 above |
| 2 | Borough of Queenscliffe | Small Shire | $2,582 | $868 above |
| 3 | Boroondara City Council | Metro | $2,459 | $745 above |
| 4 | Surf Coast Shire Council | Large Shire | $2,359 | $645 above |
| 5 | Bayside City Council | Metro | $2,172 | $458 above |
| 6 | Yarra Ranges Shire Council | Interface | $2,162 | $448 above |
| 7 | Macedon Ranges Shire Council | Large Shire | $2,141 | $427 above |
| 8 | South Gippsland Shire Council | Large Shire | $2,104 | $390 above |
| 9 | Moonee Valley City Council | Metro | $2,076 | $362 above |
| 10 | Manningham City Council | Metro | $2,065 | $351 above |
| 11 | Maribyrnong City Council | Metro | $2,035 | $321 above |
| 12 | Golden Plains Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,994 | $280 above |
| 13 | Mildura Rural City Council | Regional City | $1,992 | $278 above |
| 14 | Hepburn Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,972 | $258 above |
| 15 | Merri-bek City Council | Metro | $1,962 | $248 above |
| 16 | Warrnambool City Council | Regional City | $1,958 | $244 above |
| 17 | Hobsons Bay City Council | Metro | $1,949 | $235 above |
| 18 | Greater Shepparton City Council | Regional City | $1,937 | $223 above |
| 19 | Baw Baw Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,927 | $213 above |
| 20 | Strathbogie Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,901 | $187 above |
| 21 | Mitchell Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,874 | $160 above |
| 22 | Kingston City Council | Metro | $1,869 | $155 above |
| 23 | Wodonga City Council | Regional City | $1,868 | $154 above |
| 24 | Colac Otway Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,851 | $137 above |
| 25 | Moorabool Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,835 | $121 above |
| 26 | Mount Alexander Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,819 | $105 above |
| 27 | Horsham Rural City Council | Regional City | $1,814 | $100 above |
| 28 | Benalla Rural City Council | Small Shire | $1,804 | $90 above |
| 29 | Banyule City Council | Metro | $1,800 | $86 above |
| 30 | Campaspe Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,791 | $77 above |
| 31 | Indigo Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,780 | $66 above |
| 32 | Latrobe City Council | Regional City | $1,770 | $56 above |
| 33 | Frankston City Council | Metro | $1,767 | $53 above |
| 34 | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Interface | $1,761 | $47 above |
| 35 | Greater Bendigo City Council | Regional City | $1,758 | $44 above |
| 36 | Yarra City Council | Metro | $1,748 | $34 above |
| 37 | East Gippsland Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,729 | $15 above |
| 38 | Whittlesea City Council | Interface | $1,727 | $13 above |
| 39 | Bass Coast Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,714 | at the median |
| 40 | Glen Eira City Council | Metro | $1,714 | at the median |
| 41 | Alpine Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,706 | $8 below |
| 42 | Casey City Council | Interface | $1,706 | $8 below |
| 43 | Wangaratta Rural City Council | Regional City | $1,703 | $11 below |
| 44 | Murrindindi Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,698 | $16 below |
| 45 | Stonnington City Council | Metro | $1,687 | $27 below |
| 46 | Ballarat City Council | Regional City | $1,683 | $31 below |
| 47 | Cardinia Shire Council | Interface | $1,683 | $31 below |
| 48 | Maroondah City Council | Metro | $1,671 | $43 below |
| 49 | Port Phillip City Council | Metro | $1,661 | $53 below |
| 50 | Darebin City Council | Metro | $1,653 | $61 below |
| 51 | Mansfield Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,636 | $78 below |
| 52 | Melton City Council | Interface | $1,632 | $82 below |
| 53 | Greater Geelong City Council | Regional City | $1,624 | $90 below |
| 54 | Northern Grampians Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,616 | $98 below |
| 55 | Gannawarra Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,612 | $102 below |
| 56 | Moira Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,607 | $107 below |
| 57 | Wellington Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,582 | $132 below |
| 58 | Swan Hill Rural City Council | Large Shire | $1,578 | $136 below |
| 59 | Wyndham City Council | Interface | $1,568 | $146 below |
| 60 | Whitehorse City Council | Metro | $1,556 | $158 below |
| 61 | Glenelg Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,554 | $160 below |
| 62 | Monash City Council | Metro | $1,488 | $226 below |
| 63 | Ararat Rural City Council | Small Shire | $1,487 | $227 below |
| 64 | Hume City Council | Interface | $1,483 | $231 below |
| 65 | Towong Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,461 | $253 below |
| 66 | Central Goldfields Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,429 | $285 below |
| 67 | Knox City Council | Metro | $1,405 | $309 below |
| 68 | West Wimmera Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,344 | $370 below |
| 69 | Corangamite Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,342 | $372 below |
| 70 | Southern Grampians Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,334 | $380 below |
| 71 | Melbourne City Council | Metro | $1,322 | $392 below |
| 72 | Moyne Shire Council | Large Shire | $1,289 | $425 below |
| 73 | Brimbank City Council | Metro | $1,253 | $461 below |
| 74 | Buloke Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,239 | $475 below |
| 75 | Pyrenees Shire Council | Small Shire | $1,220 | $494 below |
| 76 | Greater Dandenong City Council | Metro | $1,063 | $651 below |
| 77 | Loddon Shire Council | Small Shire | $813 | $901 below |
| 78 | Yarriambiack Shire Council | Small Shire | $701 | $1,013 below |
| 79 | Hindmarsh Shire Council | Small Shire | $700 | $1,014 below |
Frequently asked questions
Which council has the highest rates in Victoria?
Nillumbik Shire, at an average residential rate of $2,810 for 2026-27. Borough of Queenscliffe is second at $2,582 and Boroondara City third at $2,459. The figure is each council's residential rate revenue divided by its residential assessments, plus any municipal charge.
Which Victorian council has the lowest rates?
Hindmarsh Shire, at $700 for 2026-27. Greater Dandenong City is the lowest in Melbourne at $1,063.
What is the average council rate in Melbourne?
Across the 22 Metro councils the median average residential rate is $1,731 for 2026-27. Counting the 9 Interface councils on the growth fringe as well, the 31-council median is $1,714. All 31 Melbourne councils are ranked here.
Are Victoria's most expensive council rates in Melbourne?
Mostly. 6 of the 10 dearest councils are Metro or Interface councils. By group, Regional City councils have the highest median at $1,792, and the Melbourne median of $1,714 is level with the state median of $1,714.
How do I find council rates by suburb in Victoria?
Every suburb in a council shares that council's figure. 1,323 Victorian suburbs and towns have their own page with the council rate alongside water, the commute and estimated insurance: all 533 in Greater Melbourne and the 790 regional localities with at least 200 residents. Browse Melbourne suburbs or regional Victoria, or open a council in the table below.
How much can Victorian council rates rise each year?
Victoria caps rates through the Fair Go Rates System. The Minister for Local Government sets the cap before 31 December each year on Essential Services Commission advice, and it is 2.75% for 2026-27, after 3% for 2025-26. The cap applies to a council's average rate per rateable property rather than to any single notice, so an individual bill can move by more. Waste and other service charges sit outside it.
Can Victorian council rates be compared with Queensland or New South Wales?
Not directly. The Victorian figure is an average residential rate from each council's own budget, including its municipal charge. New South Wales figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by the rate peg, and Queensland publishes a minimum general rate, a floor rather than a typical bill. Three different statistics, ranked separately.
Cite this data
SuburbCost data is free to cite with attribution. Please link to this page as the source.
Related council rate rankings
- Average council rates in Melbourne, the 31 Metro and Interface councils.
- Cheapest suburbs to live in Melbourne and the best suburbs to live in Melbourne, suburb by suburb.
- Highest council rates in Australia, each state ranked on its own basis.
- New South Wales council rates ranked and Queensland council rates.
- How council rates are calculated, and every council we hold.