True annual cost of living in North Shore, NSW 2444
Living in a house in North Shore costs about $7,254 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. North Shore sits 4.5 kilometres from Port Macquarie CBD. Unit costs come in at $6,464, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. The commute is costed by car to Port Macquarie, at $1,484 a year, because no daily public transport commute is assumed here.
About $140 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$6,464
Incl. body corporate
$539/month
About $124 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$790
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Port Macquarie-Hastings rates
$1,370
Water & sewerage
Estimated Regional NSW estimate
$1,300
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 4.5km from Port Macquarie CBD · 192 days
$1,484
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire High
$3,100
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$7,254
($605/month, $140/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↓ 43% below Port Macquarie-Hastings average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.5/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 95% of Port Macquarie-Hastings suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,827/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$2,369/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for North Shore'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 North Shore
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
North Shore Ferry, 1,226 m away, about a 15 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Port Macquarie Private Hospital, 5,493 m away, about a 69 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
6
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 North Shore to Port Macquarie CBD?
Public transport options are limited in North Shore; driving is the practical commute at $1,484 per year.
What are the council rates in North Shore?
North Shore falls under Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,370 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 $1,370 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in North Shore?
Running a unit in North Shore costs approximately $6,464 per year by car or $6,464 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,370, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $810. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is North Shore close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of North Shore is North Shore Ferry, a ferry stop about 1,226 m away, about a 15 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 North Shore?
The closest hospital to the centre of North Shore is Port Macquarie Private Hospital, about 5,493 m away, about a 69 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 North Shore?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of North Shore there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 6 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: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Regional NSW estimate. 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: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.