Living in a house in Clunes costs about $12,055 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Clunes sits 31.2 kilometres from Ballarat CBD. Unit costs reach $12,395, with the $1,800 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. The commute is costed by car to Ballarat, at $6,647 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $232 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$12,395
Incl. owners corporation
$1,033/month
About $238 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$340
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Hepburn rates
$1,972
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Central Highlands Water
$1,586
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 31.2km from Ballarat CBD · 192 days
$6,647
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Medium
$1,850
Owners corporation
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$12,055
($1,005/month, $232/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).
Near Hepburn Shire Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○3.5/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 12% of Hepburn Shire Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,077/yr
5,574 kWh
Unit
$1,684/yr
4,181 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Clunes'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.
Compare Clunes with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Clunes
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Clunes to Ballarat CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Clunes; driving is the practical commute at $6,647 per year.
What are the council rates in Clunes?
Clunes falls under Hepburn Shire Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,972 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 Clunes?
Running a unit in Clunes costs approximately $12,395 per year by car or $12,395 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,972, water and sewerage $1,586, estimated owners corporation levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $390. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Get a free report on one suburb, or compare up to five. The report is free to you. SuburbCost may receive a referral fee from a mortgage broker if you ask us to introduce you.
Included:
Annual cost breakdown
10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
Flood & fire risk ratings
Crime risk ratings
AI suburb recommendations
Up to 5 suburbs, side by side
Opening your report…
Your report is opening in a new tab. A copy is on its way to your inbox. If it isn't there within a minute, check your junk folder and mark it ‘Not junk’.
Data sources: Council rates: Hepburn rates (2026-27 budget). Water: Central Highlands 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.