Living in a house in Parkwood costs about $7,069 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Parkwood sits 3.1 kilometres from Gold Coast CBD. Unit costs reach $8,089, with the $2,800 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 $136 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,089
Incl. body corporate
$674/month
About $156 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,020
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 City of Gold Coast
$1,359
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 City of Gold Coast Water & Sewerage
$2,169
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 3.1km from Gold Coast CBD · 192 days
$1,041
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire High
$2,500
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,800
Total annual running cost
$7,069
($589/month, $136/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).
↓ 27% below City of Gold Coast average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.0/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 94% of City of Gold Coast suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,135/yr
5,126 kWh
Unit
$1,776/yr
3,845 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Parkwood'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 Parkwood
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Parkwood East, 971 m away, about a 12 minute walk. It is a light rail stop.
Nearest hospital
Emergency, 1,781 m away, about a 22 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
9
Parks
26
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 Parkwood to Gold Coast CBD?
Public transport saves Parkwood residents $849 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,041 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Parkwood?
Parkwood falls under City of Gold Coast. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,359 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,359 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Parkwood?
Running a unit in Parkwood costs approximately $8,089 per year by car or $7,240 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,359, water and sewerage $2,169, estimated body corporate levy of $2,800, and contents insurance of $720. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Parkwood close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Parkwood is Parkwood East, a light rail stop about 971 m away, about a 12 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 Parkwood?
The closest hospital to the centre of Parkwood is Emergency, about 1,781 m away, about a 22 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 Parkwood?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Parkwood there are 2 supermarkets, 9 cafes and 26 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
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Data sources: Council rates: City of Gold Coast 2026-27. Water: City of Gold Coast 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.