True annual cost of living in North Ward, QLD 4810
Living in a house in North Ward costs about $8,106 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. North Ward sits 1.5 kilometres from Townsville CBD. Unit costs reach $8,136, with the $3,500 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.
About $156 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,136
Incl. body corporate
$678/month
About $156 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$30
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Townsville City Council
$1,343
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Townsville City Council Water & Sewerage
$2,099
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 1.5km from Townsville CBD · 192 days
$514
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$4,150
Body corporate
Estimated
$3,500
Total annual running cost
$8,106
($676/month, $156/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 87% of Townsville City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,373/yr
5,933 kWh
Unit
$1,945/yr
4,450 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for North Ward'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 Ward
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Townsville City Stop A, 1,618 m away, about a 20 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Townsville Private Clinic, 1,229 m away, about a 15 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
21
Parks
22
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 Ward to Townsville CBD?
Public transport saves North Ward 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 North Ward?
North Ward falls under Townsville City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,343 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,343 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 Ward?
Running a unit in North Ward costs approximately $8,136 per year by car or $7,814 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,343, water and sewerage $2,099, estimated body corporate levy of $3,500, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is North Ward close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of North Ward is Townsville City Stop A, a bus stop about 1,618 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 North Ward?
The closest hospital to the centre of North Ward is Townsville Private Clinic, about 1,229 m away, about a 15 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 Ward?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of North Ward there are 2 supermarkets, 21 cafes and 22 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
Get a free report on one suburb, or compare up to five. The report is free to you. SuburbCost may receive a referral fee from a mortgage broker if you ask us to introduce you.
Included:
Annual cost breakdown
10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
Flood & fire risk ratings
Crime risk ratings
AI suburb recommendations
Up to 5 suburbs, side by side
Opening your report…
Your report is opening in a new tab. A copy is on its way to your inbox. If it isn't there within a minute, check your junk folder and mark it ‘Not junk’.
Data sources: Council rates: Townsville City Council 2026-27. Water: Townsville City 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.