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Rate notice · QLD · 2026-27

Southern Downs Regional Council rates 2026-27

$1,416 minimum residential general rate,
owner-occupied principal place of residence

The minimum residential general rate in the Southern Downs Regional Council area for 2026-27 is $1,416 a year. That's 3% above the QLD median of $1,373.

Council rates are usually the smallest of the main running costs. Across Southern Downs Regional Council suburbs, the average commute costs about $13,559 and insurance about $2,194 a year, with commute often 10 times the rates bill.
Calculate the full cost of living for your suburb in Southern Downs Regional Council

Where council rates sit in a typical Southern Downs Regional Council running cost

Council rates
$1,416
Water & sewerage
$2,048
Commute (driving)
$13,559
Insurance
$2,194

Rates are one line on a bigger bill. See the full picture for your suburb.

Last updated July 2026 · source: Southern Downs Regional Council 2026-27 budget / revenue statement

2025-26 vs 2026-27

YearMinimum residential rateChange
2025-26N/AN/A
2026-27$1,416n/a

How Southern Downs Regional Council compares to nearby councils

CouncilResidential ratevs Southern Downs Regional Council
Ipswich City Council$1,298$-118
Scenic Rim Regional Council$1,376$-40
Lockyer Valley Regional Council$1,395$-21
Southern Downs Regional Council (this council)$1,416n/a
Toowoomba Regional Council$1,444+$28

Across QLD, the median minimum residential rate is $1,373. Southern Downs Regional Council is 3% above the QLD median of $1,373. These are minimum rates. The figure most owner-occupiers pay is higher, scaled to their land value.

See how Southern Downs Regional Council compares to all 22 QLD councils, or the councils that raised rates most in 2026-27.

The figures on this page come from a public dataset. Download annual running costs for all 148 Queensland and NSW councils, free under CC BY 4.0.

Your suburb

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35 Southern Downs Regional Council suburbs covered · free report, no spam.

Suburbs in the Southern Downs Regional Council area

Prefer to browse? Southern Downs Regional Council covers 35 suburbs in SuburbCost, each with council rate, water, commute, insurance and estimated electricity, plus a free report:

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum council rate in Southern Downs Regional Council for 2026-27?

The minimum residential general rate for an owner-occupied home in the Southern Downs Regional Council area is $1,416 a year for 2026-27. Homes on higher land values pay more, calculated as a rate in the dollar above this minimum.

How do Southern Downs Regional Council rates compare to nearby councils?

Southern Downs Regional Council's minimum residential rate of $1,416 is 3% above the QLD median of $1,373. Nearby, Lockyer Valley Regional Council charges $1,395 and Toowoomba Regional Council charges $1,444.

Why do council rates vary between suburbs in the same council?

The minimum rate is the same across a council area, but most properties pay more than the minimum: the rate is a set number of cents per dollar of land value, so a suburb with higher land values pays higher rates for the same council.

Rates change every July

Get Southern Downs Regional Council's updated rate and see how it compares when the 2027-28 figures land. One email a year, no spam.

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