Living in a house in Capalaba costs about $10,811 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Capalaba sits 19.3 kilometres from Brisbane CBD. Unit costs reach $12,101, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 19.3km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $4,925. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
About $208 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$12,101
Incl. body corporate
$1,008/month
About $233 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,290
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Redland City Council
$1,436
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Redland City Council Water & Sewerage
$2,308
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 19.3km from CBD · 192 days
$5,117
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire High
$1,950
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$10,811
($901/month, $208/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).
↓ 11% below Redland City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○4.8/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 55% of Redland 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 Capalaba'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 Capalaba
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Capalaba bus station, 2,461 m away, about a 31 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Redland Hospital, 4,831 m away, about a 60 minute walk.
Supermarkets
1
Cafes
4
Parks
24
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 Capalaba to the CBD?
Public transport saves Capalaba residents $4,925 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,117 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Capalaba?
Capalaba falls under Redland City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,436 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,436 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Capalaba?
Running a unit in Capalaba costs approximately $12,101 per year by car or $7,176 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,436, water and sewerage $2,308, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $640. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Capalaba close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Capalaba is Capalaba bus station, a bus stop about 2,461 m away, about a 31 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 Capalaba?
The closest hospital to the centre of Capalaba is Redland Hospital, about 4,831 m away, about a 60 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 Capalaba?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Capalaba there is 1 supermarket, 4 cafes and 24 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: Redland City Council 2026-27. Water: Redland 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.