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40.8 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Killcare, NSW 2257

Living in a house in Killcare costs about $13,390 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Killcare sits 40.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs come in at $12,680, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,100 body corporate levy. At 40.8km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $4,586 more per year than public transport users.

Last updated July 2026 · Central Coast Council rates 2026-27, ATO 91c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights

Costs 23% more to run than the Central Coast average, cheaper than only 1% of suburbs in the region.
The commute is the biggest expense at $6,986, roughly 52% of the annual total.
Flood and bushfire risk are rated high here, which lifts home insurance. Full risk detail is in the free report.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
House annual cost
$13,390
Driving · per year
$1,116/month
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$12,680
Incl. body corporate
$1,057/month
House vs unit difference
−$710
Unit is cheaper per year

Annual cost breakdown

Council rates
Central Coast rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,454
Water & sewerage
Regional NSW estimate
$1,300
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 40.8km from CBD · 192 days
$6,986
Home insurance
Estimated · flood High · fire High
$3,650
Total annual running cost
$13,390
($1,116/month)
↑ 23% above Central Coast average
SuburbCost affordability score ●○○○○ 2.7/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 1% of Central Coast suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).

Estimated electricity cost

typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Killcare'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 Killcare

within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Wagstaffe, 1,564 m away, about a 20 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Woy Woy Public Hospital, 4,713 m away, about a 59 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
3
Parks
4
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.

Compare Killcare with another suburb

Frequently asked questions about Killcare

Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Killcare to the CBD?

Public transport saves Killcare residents $4,586 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $6,986 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.

What are the council rates in Killcare?

Killcare falls under Central Coast Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,454 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,454 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.

What does it cost to run a unit in Killcare?

Running a unit in Killcare costs approximately $12,680 per year by car or $8,094 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,454, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $2,100, and contents insurance of $840. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

Is Killcare close to public transport?

The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Killcare is Wagstaffe, a ferry stop about 1,564 m away, about a 20 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 Killcare?

The closest hospital to the centre of Killcare is Woy Woy Public Hospital, about 4,713 m away, about a 59 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 Killcare?

Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Killcare there are 0 supermarkets, 3 cafes and 4 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: Central Coast rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Regional NSW estimate. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.