Living in a house in Ararat costs about $8,101 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Ararat sits 83.3 kilometres from Ballarat CBD. Unit costs reach $8,721, with the $1,800 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. The commute is costed by car to Ballarat, at $3,641 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $156 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,721
Incl. owners corporation
$727/month
About $168 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$620
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Ararat rates
$1,487
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water
$1,473
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 83.3km from Ballarat CBD · 192 days
$3,641
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Medium
$1,500
Owners corporation
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$8,101
($675/month, $156/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy on your rates notice: $139 a year plus 17.3 cents per $1,000 of your home's capital improved value (2026-27).
Near Ararat Rural City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.4/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 82% of Ararat Rural City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,077/yr
5,574 kWh
Unit
$1,684/yr
4,181 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Ararat's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Ararat with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Ararat
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Ararat to Ballarat CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Ararat; driving is the practical commute at $3,641 per year.
What are the council rates in Ararat?
Ararat falls under Ararat Rural City Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,487 per year, from the council's budget: residential rate revenue divided by the number of residential assessments, plus the council's municipal charge where it sets one. Victorian councils rate on capital improved value, so individual properties pay more or less than the average. The figure excludes waste charges and the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
What does it cost to run a unit in Ararat?
Running a unit in Ararat costs approximately $8,721 per year by car or $8,721 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,487, water and sewerage $1,473, estimated owners corporation levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $320. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
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10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
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Data sources: Council rates: Ararat rates (2026-27 budget). Water: Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Flood: Victorian planning scheme flood overlays (FO, LSIO, SBO). Fire: Bushfire Management Overlay and Bushfire Prone Area. Data last verified November 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.