Living in a house in Paluma costs about $10,853 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Paluma sits 86.1 kilometres from Townsville CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,303, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,400 body corporate levy. At 86.1km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $3,569 more per year than public transport users.
About $209 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,303
Incl. body corporate
$775/month
About $179 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$1,550
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Estimated Townsville City Council rate, standing in for Charters Towers Regional Council
$1,343
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Townsville City Council Water & Sewerage
$2,099
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 86.1km from Townsville CBD · 192 days
$3,761
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$3,650
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,400
Total annual running cost
$10,853
($904/month, $209/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).
↓ 12% below Townsville City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.0/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 54% 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 Paluma'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 Paluma
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 2026-11-03. 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.
Compare Paluma with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Paluma
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Paluma to Townsville CBD?
Public transport saves Paluma residents $3,569 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,761 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Paluma?
Paluma falls under Charters Towers Regional Council. We do not yet hold that council's published rates, so the figure on this page is Townsville City Council's minimum residential general rate, used as a stand-in. Treat it as an indication of the order of magnitude rather than what Paluma ratepayers are charged, and check Charters Towers Regional Council's own schedule before relying on it.
What does it cost to run a unit in Paluma?
Running a unit in Paluma costs approximately $9,303 per year by car or $5,734 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,343, water and sewerage $2,099, estimated body corporate levy of $1,400, and contents insurance of $700. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Paluma close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Paluma. 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 Paluma?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Paluma 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: 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.