Living in a house in Caloundra costs about $11,382 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Caloundra sits 16.7 kilometres from Maroochydore CBD. Unit costs come in at $11,302, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,200 body corporate levy. At 16.7km from Maroochydore CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $4,425. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
ATO 91c/km · 16.7km from Maroochydore CBD · 192 days
$4,617
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire High
$2,900
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,200
Total annual running cost
$11,382
($949/month)
Near Sunshine Coast Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○4.9/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 53% of Sunshine Coast 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 Caloundra'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 Caloundra
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Caloundra Bus Station, 979 m away, about a 12 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Caloundra Hospital, 808 m away, about a 10 minute walk.
Supermarkets
7
Cafes
17
Parks
37
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. 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 Caloundra to Maroochydore CBD?
Public transport saves Caloundra residents $4,425 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,617 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Caloundra?
Caloundra falls under Sunshine Coast Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,771 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,771 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Caloundra?
Running a unit in Caloundra costs approximately $11,302 per year by car or $6,877 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,771, water and sewerage $2,094, estimated body corporate levy of $2,200, and contents insurance of $620. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Caloundra close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Caloundra is Caloundra Bus Station, a bus stop about 979 m away, about a 12 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 Caloundra?
The closest hospital to the centre of Caloundra is Caloundra Hospital, about 808 m away, about a 10 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 Caloundra?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Caloundra there are 7 supermarkets, 17 cafes and 37 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: Sunshine Coast Council 2026-27. Water: Unitywater (Sunshine Coast/Noosa) 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.