True annual cost of living in Caravonica, QLD 4878
Living in a house in Caravonica costs about $9,796 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Caravonica sits 12.0 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,456, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,200 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $3,373 per year at this distance.
About $188 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,456
Incl. body corporate
$788/month
About $182 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$340
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$1,765
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 12.0km from Cairns CBD · 192 days
$3,565
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,300
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,200
Total annual running cost
$9,796
($816/month, $188/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).
↓ 31% below Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.8/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 69% of Cairns Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,373/yr
5,933 kWh
Unit
$1,945/yr
4,450 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Caravonica'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 Caravonica
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Freshwater, 3,687 m away, about a 46 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
1
Parks
4
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 Caravonica to Cairns CBD?
Public transport saves Caravonica residents $3,373 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,565 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Caravonica?
Caravonica falls under Cairns Regional Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,166 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,166 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Caravonica?
Running a unit in Caravonica costs approximately $9,456 per year by car or $6,083 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $2,200, and contents insurance of $760. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Caravonica close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Caravonica is Freshwater, a train stop about 3,687 m away, about a 46 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 Caravonica?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Caravonica there are 0 supermarkets, 1 cafe and 4 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
School scores & catchments
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Data sources: Council rates: Cairns Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional 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.