Living in a house in Petford costs about $23,384 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Petford sits more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs reach $23,484, with the $1,400 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. 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.
About $450 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$23,484
Incl. body corporate
$1,957/month
About $452 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$100
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Mareeba Shire Council
$1,369
Water & sewerage
Estimated Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage, standing in
$1,765
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 Regional driving allowance · ATO 91c/km · 20,000km a year
$18,200
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Low
$2,050
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,400
Total annual running cost
$23,384
($1,949/month, $450/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).
↑ 43% above Mareeba Shire Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○4.2/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 7% of Mareeba Shire 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 Petford'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 Petford
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 Petford with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Petford
How is driving costed for Petford?
Petford 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 Petford?
Petford falls under Mareeba Shire Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,369 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,369 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges. Water and sewerage on this page is Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27's charge, standing in until this council's own schedule is loaded.
What does it cost to run a unit in Petford?
Running a unit in Petford costs approximately $23,484 per year by car or $23,484 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,369, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $1,400, and contents insurance of $750. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Petford close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Petford. 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 Petford?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Petford 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: Mareeba Shire Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional 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.