Living in a house in Carey Bay costs about $10,093 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Carey Bay sits 19.5 kilometres from Newcastle CBD. Unit costs reach $10,733, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 19.5km from Newcastle CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $2,753. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
About $194 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$10,733
Incl. body corporate
$894/month
About $206 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$640
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Lake Macquarie rates
$1,763
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Hunter Water
$1,377
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 19.5km from Newcastle CBD · 192 days
$5,153
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$1,800
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$10,093
($841/month, $194/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↑ 11% above Lake Macquarie average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.4/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 79% of Lake Macquarie suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Carey Bay'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 Carey Bay
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Fassifern, 5,031 m away, about a 63 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Toronto Private Hospital, 1,696 m away, about a 21 minute walk.
Supermarkets
3
Cafes
4
Parks
8
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 Carey Bay to Newcastle CBD?
Public transport saves Carey Bay residents $2,753 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,153 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Carey Bay?
Carey Bay falls under Lake Macquarie Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,763 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,763 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Carey Bay?
Running a unit in Carey Bay costs approximately $10,733 per year by car or $7,980 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,763, water and sewerage $1,377, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $640. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Carey Bay close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Carey Bay is Fassifern, a train stop about 5,031 m away, about a 63 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 Carey Bay?
The closest hospital to the centre of Carey Bay is Toronto Private Hospital, about 1,696 m away, about a 21 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 Carey Bay?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Carey Bay there are 3 supermarkets, 4 cafes and 8 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: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Hunter 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: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.