True annual cost of living in Lake Macdonald, QLD 4563
Living in a house in Lake Macdonald costs about $9,979 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Lake Macdonald sits 15.4 kilometres from Noosa CBD. Unit costs reach $10,219, with the $1,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 15.4km from Noosa CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $4,153. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 15.4km from Noosa CBD · 192 days
$4,345
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire High
$2,000
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,600
Total annual running cost
$9,979
($832/month, $192/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $127 a year here (levy class E, 2026-27).
Near Noosa Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.5/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 67% of Noosa 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 Lake Macdonald'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 Lake Macdonald
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Cooroy, 3,878 m away, about a 48 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Eden Private Hospital, 4,226 m away, about a 53 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
2
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 Lake Macdonald to Noosa CBD?
Public transport saves Lake Macdonald residents $4,153 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,345 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Lake Macdonald?
Lake Macdonald falls under Noosa Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,540 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,540 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Lake Macdonald?
Running a unit in Lake Macdonald costs approximately $10,219 per year by car or $6,066 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,540, water and sewerage $2,094, estimated body corporate levy of $1,600, and contents insurance of $640. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Lake Macdonald close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Lake Macdonald is Cooroy, a train stop about 3,878 m away, about a 48 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 Lake Macdonald?
The closest hospital to the centre of Lake Macdonald is Eden Private Hospital, about 4,226 m away, about a 53 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 Lake Macdonald?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Lake Macdonald there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 2 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: Noosa Council 2026-27. Water: Unitywater (Sunshine Coast/Noosa) 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.