True annual cost of living in Carrington, QLD 4350
Living in a house in Carrington costs about $6,972 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Carrington sits 5.5 kilometres from Toowoomba CBD. Unit costs reach $7,702, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $1,598 per year at this distance.
About $134 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$7,702
Incl. body corporate
$642/month
About $148 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$730
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Toowoomba Regional Council · City Urban minimum, category not confirmed for this suburb
$1,444
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Toowoomba Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$2,188
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 5.5km from Toowoomba CBD · 192 days
$1,790
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$1,550
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$6,972
($581/month, $134/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).
Cheaper to run than 95% of Toowoomba Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,274/yr
5,591 kWh
Unit
$1,870/yr
4,193 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Carrington'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 Carrington
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Harristown High School bus interchange, 1,419 m away, about an 18 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Toowoomba Hospice Association, 735 m away, about a 9 minute walk.
Supermarkets
7
Cafes
9
Parks
39
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 Carrington to Toowoomba CBD?
Public transport saves Carrington residents $1,598 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,790 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Carrington?
Carrington falls under Toowoomba Regional Council. Toowoomba sets six residential categories and the minimum general rate runs from $1,083 to $1,444 depending on where the property is. The figure here is the City Urban minimum. Which category applies turns on Map 1 of the council’s rating maps, which is not published, so a property outside the Toowoomba city urban area may pay less than this. Properties on higher land value pay more than the minimum. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Carrington?
Running a unit in Carrington costs approximately $7,702 per year by car or $6,104 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,444, water and sewerage $2,188, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $480. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Carrington close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Carrington is Harristown High School bus interchange, a bus stop about 1,419 m away, about an 18 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 Carrington?
The closest hospital to the centre of Carrington is Toowoomba Hospice Association, about 735 m away, about a 9 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 Carrington?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Carrington there are 7 supermarkets, 9 cafes and 39 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: Toowoomba Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Toowoomba 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.