Living in a house in Northhead costs about $28,331 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Northhead sits more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $23,481, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,600 body corporate levy. Driving is costed as a flat regional allowance of $18,200, about 20,000km of household driving a year, because a daily CBD commute is not realistic from here.
Cairns Regional Council rate, standing in for Etheridge Shire Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27
$1,765
Driving commute
Regional driving allowance · ATO 91c/km · 20,000km a year
$18,200
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Low
$7,200
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,600
Total annual running cost
$28,331
($2,361/month)
↑ 58% above Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.2/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 24% of Cairns Regional 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 Northhead'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 Northhead
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
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 Northhead with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Northhead
How is driving costed for Northhead?
Northhead is more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD, so a daily commute is not assumed. Driving is costed as a flat regional allowance of $18,200 a year, about 20,000km of household driving at the ATO rate of 91c/km. Add your own workplace in the free report to cost the real drive.
What are the council rates in Northhead?
Northhead falls under Etheridge Shire Council. We do not yet hold that council's published rates, so the figure on this page is Cairns Regional Council's minimum residential general rate, used as a stand-in. Treat it as an indication of the order of magnitude rather than what Northhead ratepayers are charged, and check Etheridge Shire Council's own schedule before relying on it.
What does it cost to run a unit in Northhead?
Running a unit in Northhead costs approximately $23,481 per year by car or $5,473 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $1,600, and contents insurance of $750. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Northhead close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Northhead. The running cost on this page assumes driving, which is why the commute component is the largest line for most suburbs in this position.
What shops and parks are in Northhead?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Northhead there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 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: Cairns Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Queensland Globe, QFES. Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.