True annual cost of living in Garfield North, VIC 3814
Living in a house in Garfield North costs about $8,388 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Garfield North sits 68.3 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Unit costs reach $9,248, with the $2,100 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 68.3km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,268 more per year than public transport users.
About $161 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$9,248
Incl. owners corporation
$771/month
About $178 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$860
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Cardinia rates
$1,683
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 South East Water
$1,514
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 68.3km from CBD · 192 days
$3,491
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire High
$1,700
Owners corporation
Estimated
$2,100
Total annual running cost
$8,388
($699/month, $161/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).
↓ 15% below Cardinia Shire Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.0/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 78% of Cardinia Shire Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,016/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,629/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Garfield North'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 Garfield North
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Garfield Station, 5,551 m away, about a 69 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
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 Garfield North to the CBD?
Public transport saves Garfield North residents $1,268 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,491 versus $2,223 by public transport using a yearly myki Pass at the 2026 standard full fare.
What are the council rates in Garfield North?
Garfield North falls under Cardinia Shire Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,683 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 Garfield North?
Running a unit in Garfield North costs approximately $9,248 per year by car or $7,980 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,683, water and sewerage $1,514, estimated owners corporation levy of $2,100, and contents insurance of $460. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Garfield North close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Garfield North is Garfield Station, a train stop about 5,551 m away, about a 69 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 shops and parks are in Garfield North?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Garfield North there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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: Cardinia rates (2026-27 budget). Water: South East 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.