True annual cost of living in Cliftleigh, NSW 2321
Living in a house in Cliftleigh costs about $12,868 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Cliftleigh sits 28.6 kilometres from Newcastle CBD. Unit costs come in at $12,278, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 28.6km from Newcastle CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $4,021. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Cheaper to run than 36% of Maitland 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 Cliftleigh'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 Cliftleigh
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
3
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. 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 Cliftleigh to Newcastle CBD?
Public transport saves Cliftleigh residents $4,021 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $6,421 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Cliftleigh?
Cliftleigh falls under Maitland Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,970 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 $1,970 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Cliftleigh?
Running a unit in Cliftleigh costs approximately $12,278 per year by car or $8,257 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,970, water and sewerage $1,377, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Cliftleigh close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Cliftleigh. The running cost on this page assumes driving, which is why the commute component is the largest line for most suburbs in this position.
What shops and parks are in Cliftleigh?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Cliftleigh there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 3 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: Maitland rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Hunter Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.