Living in a house in Mackay costs about $7,728 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Mackay sits 0.6 kilometres from Mackay CBD. Unit costs reach $8,570, with the $3,800 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.
About $149 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,570
Incl. body corporate
$714/month
About $165 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$842
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Mackay Regional Council
$1,466
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Mackay Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$2,048
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 0.6km from Mackay CBD · 192 days
$514
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,700
Body corporate
Estimated
$3,800
Total annual running cost
$7,728
($644/month, $149/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Management Levy on your rates notice, $260 a year here (levy class A, 2026-27).
Cheaper to run than 90% of Mackay Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,140/yr
5,126 kWh
Unit
$1,770/yr
3,845 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Mackay'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 Mackay
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Mackay, 3,913 m away, about a 49 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, 2,156 m away, about a 27 minute walk.
Supermarkets
5
Cafes
4
Parks
70
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 Mackay to Mackay CBD?
Public transport saves Mackay residents $322 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $514 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Mackay?
Mackay falls under Mackay Regional Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,466 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,528 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Mackay?
Running a unit in Mackay costs approximately $8,570 per year by car or $8,248 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,528, water and sewerage $2,048, estimated body corporate levy of $3,800, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Mackay close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Mackay is Mackay, a train stop about 3,913 m away, about a 49 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 Mackay?
The closest hospital to the centre of Mackay is Mater Misericordiae Hospital, about 2,156 m away, about a 27 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 Mackay?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Mackay there are 5 supermarkets, 4 cafes and 70 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
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Data sources: Council rates: Mackay Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Mackay Regional Council Water & Sewerage 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.