True annual cost of living in Caulfield East, VIC 3145
Living in a house in Caulfield East costs about $7,844 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Caulfield East sits 10.2 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Unit costs reach $9,244, with the $2,600 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $893 per year at this distance.
About $151 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$9,244
Incl. owners corporation
$770/month
About $178 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,400
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Glen Eira rates
$1,714
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 South East Water
$1,514
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 10.2km from CBD · 192 days
$3,116
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$1,500
Owners corporation
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$7,844
($654/month, $151/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy on your rates notice: $139 a year plus 17.3 cents per $1,000 of your home's capital improved value (2026-27).
Cheaper to run than 84% of Glen Eira City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$1,759/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,428/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Caulfield East'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 Caulfield East
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Caulfield, 421 m away, about a 5 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Orthodontist, 1,630 m away, about a 20 minute walk.
Supermarkets
16
Cafes
46
Parks
25
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 Caulfield East to the CBD?
Public transport saves Caulfield East residents $893 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,116 versus $2,223 by public transport using a yearly myki Pass at the 2026 standard full fare.
What are the council rates in Caulfield East?
Caulfield East falls under Glen Eira City Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,714 per year, from the council's budget: residential rate revenue divided by the number of residential assessments, plus the council's municipal charge where it sets one. Victorian councils rate on capital improved value, so individual properties pay more or less than the average. The figure excludes waste charges and the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
What does it cost to run a unit in Caulfield East?
Running a unit in Caulfield East costs approximately $9,244 per year by car or $8,351 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,714, water and sewerage $1,514, estimated owners corporation levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $300. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Caulfield East close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Caulfield East is Caulfield, a train stop about 421 m away, about a 5 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 Caulfield East?
The closest hospital to the centre of Caulfield East is Orthodontist, about 1,630 m away, about a 20 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 Caulfield East?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Caulfield East there are 16 supermarkets, 46 cafes and 25 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: Glen Eira rates (2026-27 budget). Water: South East 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: Flood: Victorian planning scheme flood overlays (FO, LSIO, SBO). Fire: Bushfire Management Overlay and Bushfire Prone Area. Data last verified November 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.