True annual cost of living in Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059
Living in a house in Kelvin Grove costs about $5,462 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Kelvin Grove sits 2.7 kilometres from Brisbane CBD. Unit costs reach $9,930, with the $5,500 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Transport mode has the biggest effect on total cost in a suburb this close to the city.
Cheaper to run than 96% of Brisbane City 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 Kelvin Grove'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 Kelvin Grove
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
QUT Kelvin Grove, 720 m away, about a 9 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, 1,490 m away, about a 19 minute walk.
Supermarkets
9
Cafes
59
Parks
65
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 Kelvin Grove to the CBD?
Public transport saves Kelvin Grove residents $720 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $912 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Kelvin Grove?
Kelvin Grove falls under Brisbane City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $950 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,138 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Kelvin Grove?
Running a unit in Kelvin Grove costs approximately $9,930 per year by car or $9,210 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,138, water and sewerage $1,900, estimated body corporate levy of $5,500, and contents insurance of $480. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Kelvin Grove close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Kelvin Grove is QUT Kelvin Grove, a bus stop about 720 m away, about a 9 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 Kelvin Grove?
The closest hospital to the centre of Kelvin Grove is Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, about 1,490 m away, about a 19 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 Kelvin Grove?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Kelvin Grove there are 9 supermarkets, 59 cafes and 65 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: Brisbane City Council 2026-27. Water: Queensland Urban Utilities 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.