Living in a house in Forrest costs about $8,710 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Forrest sits 70.1 kilometres from Geelong CBD. Unit costs come in at $8,520, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 owners corporation levy. The commute is costed by car to Geelong, at $3,060 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $168 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$8,520
Incl. owners corporation
$710/month
About $164 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$190
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Colac Otway rates
$1,851
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Barwon Water
$1,349
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 70.1km from Geelong CBD · 192 days
$3,060
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire High
$2,450
Owners corporation
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$8,710
($726/month, $168/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy on your rates notice: $139 a year plus 17.3 cents per $1,000 of your home's capital improved value (2026-27).
↓ 6% below Colac Otway Shire Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.8/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 72% of Colac Otway Shire Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$1,870/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,528/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Forrest'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.
Compare Forrest with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Forrest
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Forrest to Geelong CBD?
Public transport options are limited in Forrest; driving is the practical commute at $3,060 per year.
What are the council rates in Forrest?
Forrest falls under Colac Otway Shire Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,851 per year, from the council's budget: residential rate revenue divided by the number of residential assessments, plus the council's municipal charge where it sets one. Victorian councils rate on capital improved value, so individual properties pay more or less than the average. The figure excludes waste charges and the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
What does it cost to run a unit in Forrest?
Running a unit in Forrest costs approximately $8,520 per year by car or $8,520 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,851, water and sewerage $1,349, estimated owners corporation levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $460. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
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: Colac Otway rates (2026-27 budget). Water: Barwon Water 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: Flood: Victorian planning scheme flood overlays (FO, LSIO, SBO). Fire: Bushfire Management Overlay and Bushfire Prone Area. Data last verified November 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.