Living in a house in Fernvale costs about $12,186 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Fernvale sits 34.4 kilometres from Esk CBD. Unit costs reach $12,546, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. The commute is costed by car to Esk, at $6,852 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $234 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$12,546
Incl. body corporate
$1,046/month
About $241 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$360
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Somerset Regional Council
$1,284
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Queensland Urban Utilities
$1,900
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 34.4km from Esk CBD · 192 days
$6,852
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire High
$2,150
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$12,186
($1,016/month, $234/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).
↑ 12% above Somerset Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○3.5/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 30% of Somerset Regional Council 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 Fernvale'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 Fernvale
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
1
Cafes
4
Parks
5
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 Fernvale to Esk CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Fernvale; driving is the practical commute at $6,852 per year.
What are the council rates in Fernvale?
Fernvale falls under Somerset Regional Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,284 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,284 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Fernvale?
Running a unit in Fernvale costs approximately $12,546 per year by car or $12,546 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,284, water and sewerage $1,900, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Fernvale close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Fernvale. 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 Fernvale?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Fernvale there is 1 supermarket, 4 cafes and 5 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Included:
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: Somerset Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Queensland Urban Utilities 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.