Living in a house in Coombabah costs about $9,624 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Coombabah sits 7.4 kilometres from Gold Coast CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,494, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,800 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $2,154 per year at this distance.
About $185 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,494
Incl. body corporate
$791/month
About $183 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$130
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 City of Gold Coast
$1,359
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 City of Gold Coast Water & Sewerage
$2,169
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 7.4km from Gold Coast CBD · 192 days
$2,346
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire High
$3,750
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,800
Total annual running cost
$9,624
($802/month, $185/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $260 a year here (levy class A, 2026-27).
Near City of Gold Coast average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.7/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 72% of City of Gold Coast suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,135/yr
5,126 kWh
Unit
$1,776/yr
3,845 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Coombabah'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 Coombabah
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Runnaway Bay, 3,065 m away, about a 38 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Emergency, 5,493 m away, about a 69 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
1
Parks
30
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 Coombabah to Gold Coast CBD?
Public transport saves Coombabah residents $2,154 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,346 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Coombabah?
Coombabah falls under City of Gold Coast. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,359 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,359 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Coombabah?
Running a unit in Coombabah costs approximately $9,494 per year by car or $7,340 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,359, water and sewerage $2,169, estimated body corporate levy of $2,800, and contents insurance of $820. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Coombabah close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Coombabah is Runnaway Bay, a ferry stop about 3,065 m away, about a 38 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 Coombabah?
The closest hospital to the centre of Coombabah is Emergency, about 5,493 m away, about a 69 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 Coombabah?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Coombabah there are 0 supermarkets, 1 cafe and 30 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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: City of Gold Coast 2026-27. Water: City of Gold Coast Water & Sewerage 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: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.