Living in a house in Brunswick costs about $7,053 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Brunswick sits 5.2 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Unit costs reach $8,173, with the $2,600 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $520 per year at this distance.
About $136 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,173
Incl. owners corporation
$681/month
About $157 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 Merri-bek rates
$1,962
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Yarra Valley Water
$1,538
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 5.2km from CBD · 192 days
$1,703
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Low
$1,850
Owners corporation
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$7,053
($588/month, $136/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).
Cheaper to run than 91% of Merri-bek City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$1,699/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,385/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Brunswick'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 Brunswick
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Brunswick, 160 m away, about a 2 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Unnamed, 427 m away, about a 5 minute walk.
Supermarkets
21
Cafes
115
Parks
64
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 Brunswick to the CBD?
Driving saves Brunswick residents $520 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,703 versus $2,223 by public transport using a yearly myki Pass at the 2026 standard full fare.
What are the council rates in Brunswick?
Brunswick falls under Merri-bek City Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,962 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 Brunswick?
Running a unit in Brunswick costs approximately $8,173 per year by car or $8,693 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,962, water and sewerage $1,538, 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 Brunswick close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Brunswick is Brunswick, a train stop about 160 m away, about a 2 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 Brunswick?
The closest hospital to the centre of Brunswick is Unnamed, about 427 m away, about a 5 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 Brunswick?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Brunswick there are 21 supermarkets, 115 cafes and 64 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: Merri-bek rates (2026-27 budget). Water: Yarra Valley 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.