True annual cost of living in Cowley Beach, QLD 4871
Living in a house in Cowley Beach costs about $10,755 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Cowley Beach sits 88.7 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,265, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. The commute is costed by car to Cairns, at $3,875 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $207 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,265
Incl. body corporate
$772/month
About $178 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$1,490
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Cassowary Coast Regional Council
$1,415
Water & sewerage
Estimated Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage, standing in
$1,765
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 88.7km from Cairns CBD · 192 days
$3,875
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,700
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$10,755
($896/month, $207/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $127 a year here (levy class E, 2026-27).
↓ 13% below Cassowary Coast Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.7/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 56% of Cassowary Coast 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 Cowley 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 Cowley Beach
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
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.
Compare Cowley Beach with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Cowley Beach
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Cowley Beach to Cairns CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Cowley Beach; driving is the practical commute at $3,875 per year.
What are the council rates in Cowley Beach?
Cowley Beach falls under Cassowary Coast Regional Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,415 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,415 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges. Water and sewerage on this page is Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27's charge, standing in until this council's own schedule is loaded.
What does it cost to run a unit in Cowley Beach?
Running a unit in Cowley Beach costs approximately $9,265 per year by car or $9,265 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,415, water and sewerage $1,765, 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 Cowley Beach close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Cowley Beach. 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 Cowley Beach?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Cowley Beach there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 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: Cassowary Coast Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional Council 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.