True annual cost of living in Clifton Beach, QLD 4879
Living in a house in Clifton Beach costs about $15,025 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Clifton Beach sits 20.3 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $10,735, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 20.3km from Cairns CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $5,102. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Cheaper to run than 48% 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 Clifton Beach'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 Clifton Beach
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
James Cook University Bus Station, 5,946 m away, about a 74 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Supermarkets
1
Cafes
3
Parks
15
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 Clifton Beach to Cairns CBD?
Public transport saves Clifton Beach residents $5,102 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,294 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Clifton Beach?
Clifton Beach 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 Clifton Beach?
Running a unit in Clifton Beach costs approximately $10,735 per year by car or $5,633 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, 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 Clifton Beach close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Clifton Beach is James Cook University Bus Station, a bus stop about 5,946 m away, about a 74 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 Clifton Beach?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Clifton Beach there is 1 supermarket, 3 cafes and 15 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: Cairns Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.