True annual cost of living in Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Living in a house in Coffs Harbour costs about $6,305 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Coffs Harbour sits 2.1 kilometres from Coffs Harbour CBD. Unit costs come in at $5,715, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. The commute is costed by car to Coffs Harbour, at $715 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $121 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$5,715
Incl. body corporate
$476/month
About $110 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$590
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Coffs Harbour rates
$1,490
Water & sewerage
Estimated Regional NSW estimate
$1,300
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 2.1km from Coffs Harbour CBD · 192 days
$715
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Medium
$2,800
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$6,305
($525/month, $121/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↓ 34% below Coffs Harbour average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.4/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 97% of Coffs Harbour suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,774/yr
5,086 kWh
Unit
$2,329/yr
3,815 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Coffs Harbour'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 Coffs Harbour
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Coffs Harbour, 1,373 m away, about a 17 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Coffs Day Hospital, 1,272 m away, about a 16 minute walk.
Supermarkets
7
Cafes
30
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 Coffs Harbour to Coffs Harbour CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Coffs Harbour; driving is the practical commute at $715 per year.
What are the council rates in Coffs Harbour?
Coffs Harbour falls under Coffs Harbour Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,490 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 $1,490 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Coffs Harbour?
Running a unit in Coffs Harbour costs approximately $5,715 per year by car or $5,715 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,490, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Coffs Harbour close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Coffs Harbour is Coffs Harbour, a train stop about 1,373 m away, about a 17 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 Coffs Harbour?
The closest hospital to the centre of Coffs Harbour is Coffs Day Hospital, about 1,272 m away, about a 16 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 Coffs Harbour?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Coffs Harbour there are 7 supermarkets, 30 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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Annual cost breakdown
10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
Flood & fire risk ratings
Crime risk ratings
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Data sources: Council rates: Coffs Harbour rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Regional NSW estimate. 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: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.