Cairns North vs Manunda, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cairns North and Manunda are both Cairns Regional Council suburbs, sitting 2.4 km and 3.1 km from Cairns CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $127 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Manunda
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cairns North | Manunda | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,166 | $1,166 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,765 | $1,765 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $814 | $1,041 | -$227 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,450 | $3,350 | +$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $4,800 | $2,200 | +$2,600 |
| Total (driving) | $7,195 | $7,322 | -$127 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,573 | $6,473 | +$100 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Cairns North | Manunda | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,373 | $2,373 | - |
| Unit | $1,945 | $1,945 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Cairns North vs Manunda (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cairns North and Manunda differ by $127 a year by car, but $100 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $227, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $227 per year. Manunda is 3.1 km from Cairns CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,573 and $6,473 a year, so the $127 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,166 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,765 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cairns North by $227 a year, $814 against $1,041.
- Building insurance favours Manunda by $100 a year, $3,350 against $3,450.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Cairns North against 1 in Manunda, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cairns North cumulative | Manunda cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,195 | $7,322 | $127 |
| Year 3 | $22,239 | $22,632 | $393 |
| Year 5 | $38,199 | $38,873 | $674 |
| Year 10 | $82,483 | $83,939 | $1,456 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cairns North or Manunda cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cairns North runs $7,195 a year by car and Manunda $7,322, but most of the $127 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $227. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cairns North and Manunda?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,166 in Cairns North (Cairns Regional Council) and $1,166 in Manunda (Cairns Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,765 in Cairns North and $1,765 in Manunda. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Cairns North and Manunda?
Annual driving commute costs are $814 from Cairns North and $1,041 from Manunda to Cairns CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Cairns North and $192 from Manunda.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cairns North and Manunda?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cairns North costs a cumulative $82,483 and Manunda costs $83,939 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,456 in favour of Cairns North. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cairns North and Manunda suits you better?
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Sources: Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Regional Council rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.