True annual cost of living in East Kempsey, NSW 2440
Living in a house in East Kempsey costs about $12,130 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. East Kempsey sits 39.5 kilometres from Port Macquarie CBD. Unit costs come in at $11,990, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. The commute is costed by car to Port Macquarie, at $6,988 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $233 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$11,990
Incl. body corporate
$999/month
About $231 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$140
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Kempsey rates
$1,492
Water & sewerage
Estimated Regional NSW estimate
$1,300
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 39.5km from Port Macquarie CBD · 192 days
$6,988
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Medium
$2,350
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$12,130
($1,011/month, $233/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↓ 30% below Kempsey average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○4.4/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 58% of Kempsey 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 East Kempsey'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 East Kempsey
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Kempsey Coach Terminal, 1,662 m away, about a 21 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Kempsey District Hospital, 3,817 m away, about a 48 minute walk.
Supermarkets
5
Cafes
2
Parks
8
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 East Kempsey to Port Macquarie CBD?
Public transport options are limited in East Kempsey; driving is the practical commute at $6,988 per year.
What are the council rates in East Kempsey?
East Kempsey falls under Kempsey Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,492 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 $1,492 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in East Kempsey?
Running a unit in East Kempsey costs approximately $11,990 per year by car or $11,990 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,492, 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 East Kempsey close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of East Kempsey is Kempsey Coach Terminal, a bus stop about 1,662 m away, about a 21 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 East Kempsey?
The closest hospital to the centre of East Kempsey is Kempsey District Hospital, about 3,817 m away, about a 48 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 East Kempsey?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of East Kempsey there are 5 supermarkets, 2 cafes and 8 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: Kempsey 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.