Living in a house in Edmonton costs about $9,871 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Edmonton sits 11.7 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,111, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,000 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $3,298 per year at this distance.
About $190 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,111
Incl. body corporate
$759/month
About $175 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$760
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$1,765
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 11.7km from Cairns CBD · 192 days
$3,490
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,450
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,000
Total annual running cost
$9,871
($823/month, $190/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).
↓ 31% below Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.0/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 69% of Cairns 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 Edmonton'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 Edmonton
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Mount Sheridan Plaza Bus Stop, 3,094 m away, about a 39 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Cairns South Health Facility, 1,711 m away, about a 21 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
2
Parks
33
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 Edmonton to Cairns CBD?
Public transport saves Edmonton residents $3,298 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,490 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Edmonton?
Edmonton falls under Cairns Regional Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,166 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,166 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Edmonton?
Running a unit in Edmonton costs approximately $9,111 per year by car or $5,813 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $2,000, and contents insurance of $690. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Edmonton close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Edmonton is Mount Sheridan Plaza Bus Stop, a bus stop about 3,094 m away, about a 39 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 Edmonton?
The closest hospital to the centre of Edmonton is Cairns South Health Facility, about 1,711 m away, about a 21 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 Edmonton?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Edmonton there are 2 supermarkets, 2 cafes and 33 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: Cairns 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.