Living in a house in Brighton costs about $8,816 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Brighton sits 10.9 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Unit costs reach $9,936, with the $2,600 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $1,057 per year at this distance.
About $170 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$9,936
Incl. owners corporation
$828/month
About $191 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,120
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Bayside rates
$2,172
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 South East Water
$1,514
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 10.9km from CBD · 192 days
$3,280
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Low
$1,850
Owners corporation
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$8,816
($735/month, $170/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).
↓ 10% below Bayside City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.3/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 70% of Bayside City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$1,759/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,428/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Brighton'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 Brighton
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
North Brighton, 779 m away, about a 10 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Brighton Cabrini, 521 m away, about a 7 minute walk.
Supermarkets
4
Cafes
23
Parks
25
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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Brighton to the CBD?
Public transport saves Brighton residents $1,057 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,280 versus $2,223 by public transport using a yearly myki Pass at the 2026 standard full fare.
What are the council rates in Brighton?
Brighton falls under Bayside City Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $2,172 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 Brighton?
Running a unit in Brighton costs approximately $9,936 per year by car or $8,879 by public transport. This includes council rates of $2,172, water and sewerage $1,514, estimated owners corporation levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $370. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Brighton close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Brighton is North Brighton, a train stop about 779 m away, about a 10 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.
What is the closest hospital to Brighton?
The closest hospital to the centre of Brighton is Brighton Cabrini, about 521 m away, about a 7 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.
What shops and parks are in Brighton?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Brighton there are 4 supermarkets, 23 cafes and 25 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: Bayside rates (2026-27 budget). Water: South East 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.