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Rate notice · QLD · 2026-27

Western Downs Regional Council rates 2026-27

$1,016 minimum residential general rate,
owner-occupied principal place of residence

The minimum residential general rate in the Western Downs Regional Council area for 2026-27 is $1,016 a year. That's 26% below the QLD median of $1,373.

Council rates are usually the smallest of the main running costs. Across Western Downs Regional Council suburbs, the average commute costs about $12,495 and insurance about $2,218 a year, with commute often 12 times the rates bill.
Calculate the full cost of living for your suburb in Western Downs Regional Council

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

Council rates
$1,016
Water & sewerage
$2,188
Commute (driving)
$12,495
Insurance
$2,218

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

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

2025-26 vs 2026-27

YearMinimum residential rateChange
2025-26N/AN/A
2026-27$1,016n/a

How Western Downs Regional Council compares to nearby councils

CouncilResidential ratevs Western Downs Regional Council
Western Downs Regional Council (this council)$1,016n/a
South Burnett Regional Council$1,189+$173
Somerset Regional Council$1,284+$268
Lockyer Valley Regional Council$1,395+$379
Toowoomba Regional Council$1,444+$428

Across QLD, the median minimum residential rate is $1,373. Western Downs Regional Council is 26% below 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 Western 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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38 Western Downs Regional Council suburbs covered · free report, no spam.

Suburbs in the Western Downs Regional Council area

Prefer to browse? Western Downs Regional Council covers 38 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 Western Downs Regional Council for 2026-27?

The minimum residential general rate for an owner-occupied home in the Western Downs Regional Council area is $1,016 a year for 2026-27. Homes on higher land values pay more, calculated as a rate in the dollar above this minimum.

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

Western Downs Regional Council's minimum residential rate of $1,016 is 26% below the QLD median of $1,373. Nearby, Toowoomba Regional Council charges $1,444 and South Burnett Regional Council charges $1,189.

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 Western 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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