Living in a house in Blackbull costs about $23,281 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Blackbull sits more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs reach $23,411, with the $1,500 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Driving is costed as a flat regional allowance of $18,200, about 20,000km of household driving a year, because a daily CBD commute is not realistic from here.
About $448 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$23,411
Incl. body corporate
$1,951/month
About $450 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$130
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Estimated Cairns Regional Council rate, standing in for Croydon Shire Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$1,765
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 Regional driving allowance · ATO 91c/km · 20,000km a year
$18,200
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$2,150
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$23,281
($1,940/month, $448/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $127 a year here (levy class E, 2026-27).
↑ 63% above Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○3.6/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 8% of Cairns Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,373/yr
5,933 kWh
Unit
$1,945/yr
4,450 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Blackbull'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.
Getting around Blackbull
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.
Compare Blackbull with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Blackbull
How is driving costed for Blackbull?
Blackbull is more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD, so a daily commute is not assumed. Driving is costed as a flat regional allowance of $18,200 a year, about 20,000km of household driving at the ATO rate of 91c/km. Add your own workplace in the free report to cost the real drive.
What are the council rates in Blackbull?
Blackbull falls under Croydon Shire Council. We do not yet hold that council's published rates, so the figure on this page is Cairns Regional Council's minimum residential general rate, used as a stand-in. Treat it as an indication of the order of magnitude rather than what Blackbull ratepayers are charged, and check Croydon Shire Council's own schedule before relying on it.
What does it cost to run a unit in Blackbull?
Running a unit in Blackbull costs approximately $23,411 per year by car or $23,411 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $780. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Blackbull close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Blackbull. The running cost on this page assumes driving, which is why the commute component is the largest line for most suburbs in this position.
What shops and parks are in Blackbull?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Blackbull there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Data sources: Council rates: Cairns Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 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: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.