Castle Hill vs Townsville City, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Castle Hill and Townsville City are both Townsville City Council suburbs, sitting 1.8 km and 0 km from Townsville CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Castle Hill runs $599 a year cheaper than Townsville City, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,866.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Townsville City
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Castle Hill | Townsville City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,343 | $1,343 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,099 | $2,099 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $615 | $514 | +$101 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,750 | $4,450 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,200 | $4,800 | -$1,600 |
| Total (driving) | $7,807 | $8,406 | -$599 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,384 | $8,084 | -$700 |
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 | Castle Hill | Townsville City | 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, Castle Hill vs Townsville City (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Castle Hill and Townsville City differ by $599 a year by car, but $700 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 $101, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Townsville City carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $7,384 from Castle Hill versus $8,084 from Townsville City.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,343 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,099 a year.
- Driving commute favours Townsville City by $101 a year, $514 against $615.
- Building insurance favours Castle Hill by $700 a year, $3,750 against $4,450.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Townsville City against low in Castle Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.4 in Castle Hill against 4.2 in Townsville City, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Castle Hill cumulative | Townsville City cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,807 | $8,406 | $599 |
| Year 3 | $24,131 | $25,982 | $1,851 |
| Year 5 | $41,448 | $44,629 | $3,181 |
| Year 10 | $89,499 | $96,365 | $6,866 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castle Hill or Townsville City cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Castle Hill runs $7,807 a year by car and Townsville City $8,406, but most of the $599 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $101. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Castle Hill and Townsville City?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,343 in Castle Hill (Townsville City Council) and $1,343 in Townsville City (Townsville City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,099 in Castle Hill and $2,099 in Townsville City. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Castle Hill and Townsville City?
Annual driving commute costs are $615 from Castle Hill and $514 from Townsville City to Townsville CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Castle Hill and $192 from Townsville City.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Castle Hill and Townsville City?
At 3% annual cost growth, Castle Hill costs a cumulative $89,499 and Townsville City costs $96,365 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,866 in favour of Castle Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Castle Hill and Townsville City suits you better?
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Sources: Townsville City Council and Townsville City 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.