True annual cost of living in Browns Plains, QLD 4118
Living in a house in Browns Plains costs about $11,708 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Browns Plains sits 21.6 kilometres from Brisbane CBD. Unit costs reach $12,458, with the $2,400 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 21.6km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $5,318. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
About $225 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$12,458
Incl. body corporate
$1,038/month
About $240 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$750
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Logan City Council
$1,699
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Logan City Council Water & Sewerage
$2,149
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 21.6km from CBD · 192 days
$5,510
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire High
$2,350
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,400
Total annual running cost
$11,708
($976/month, $225/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $260 a year here (levy class A, 2026-27).
Near Logan City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○3.8/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 40% of Logan City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,135/yr
5,126 kWh
Unit
$1,776/yr
3,845 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Browns Plains'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 Browns Plains
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Unnamed, 1,409 m away, about an 18 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Supermarkets
4
Cafes
1
Parks
38
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 Browns Plains to the CBD?
Public transport saves Browns Plains residents $5,318 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,510 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Browns Plains?
Browns Plains falls under Logan City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,699 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,699 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Browns Plains?
Running a unit in Browns Plains costs approximately $12,458 per year by car or $7,140 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,699, water and sewerage $2,149, estimated body corporate levy of $2,400, and contents insurance of $700. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Browns Plains close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Browns Plains is Unnamed, a bus stop about 1,409 m away, about an 18 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 shops and parks are in Browns Plains?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Browns Plains there are 4 supermarkets, 1 cafe and 38 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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10-year cost projection
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Data sources: Council rates: Logan City Council 2026-27. Water: Logan City 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.