True annual cost of living in Highfields, QLD 4352
Living in a house in Highfields costs about $8,945 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Highfields sits 10.6 kilometres from Toowoomba CBD. Unit costs reach $9,365, with the $2,000 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $3,021 per year at this distance.
Toowoomba Regional Council 2026-27 · City Urban minimum, category not confirmed for this suburb
$1,444
Water & sewerage
Toowoomba Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27
$2,188
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 10.6km from Toowoomba CBD · 192 days
$3,213
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Medium
$2,100
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,000
Total annual running cost
$8,945
($745/month)
↓ 21% below Toowoomba Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.4/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 84% of Toowoomba Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,274/yr
5,591 kWh
Unit
$1,870/yr
4,193 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Highfields'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 Highfields
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Spring Bluff, 2,826 m away, about a 35 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Supermarkets
3
Cafes
0
Parks
13
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. 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 Highfields to Toowoomba CBD?
Public transport saves Highfields residents $3,021 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,213 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Highfields?
Highfields falls under Toowoomba Regional Council. Toowoomba sets six residential categories and the minimum general rate runs from $1,083 to $1,444 depending on where the property is. The figure here is the City Urban minimum. Which category applies turns on Map 1 of the council’s rating maps, which is not published, so a property outside the Toowoomba city urban area may pay less than this. Properties on higher land value pay more than the minimum. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Highfields?
Running a unit in Highfields costs approximately $9,365 per year by car or $6,344 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,444, water and sewerage $2,188, estimated body corporate levy of $2,000, and contents insurance of $520. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Highfields close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Highfields is Spring Bluff, a train stop about 2,826 m away, about a 35 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 Highfields?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Highfields there are 3 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 13 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
Your report is opening in a new tab. Check your inbox if it doesn't appear within a minute.
Data sources: Council rates: Toowoomba Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Toowoomba Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.