True annual cost of living in Freshwater, QLD 4870
Living in a house in Freshwater costs about $9,069 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Freshwater sits 7.9 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $8,369, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,200 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $2,296 per year at this distance.
About $174 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$8,369
Incl. body corporate
$697/month
About $161 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$700
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 · 7.9km from Cairns CBD · 192 days
$2,488
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,650
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,200
Total annual running cost
$9,069
($756/month, $174/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).
Cheaper to run than 78% 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 Freshwater'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 Freshwater
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Freshwater, 475 m away, about a 6 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Cairns North Community Health Facility, 4,999 m away, about a 62 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
3
Parks
21
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 Freshwater to Cairns CBD?
Public transport saves Freshwater residents $2,296 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,488 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Freshwater?
Freshwater 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 Freshwater?
Running a unit in Freshwater costs approximately $8,369 per year by car or $6,073 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $2,200, and contents insurance of $750. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Freshwater close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Freshwater is Freshwater, a train stop about 475 m away, about a 6 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 Freshwater?
The closest hospital to the centre of Freshwater is Cairns North Community Health Facility, about 4,999 m away, about a 62 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 Freshwater?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Freshwater there are 2 supermarkets, 3 cafes and 21 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.