Living in a house in Riverside costs about $7,685 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Riverside sits 4.6 kilometres from Port Macquarie CBD. Unit costs come in at $6,495, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. Transport mode has the biggest effect on total cost in a suburb this close to the city.
Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,370
Water & sewerage
Regional NSW estimate
$1,300
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 4.6km from Port Macquarie CBD · 192 days
$1,515
Home insurance
Estimated · flood High · fire High
$3,500
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$7,685
($640/month)
↓ 41% below Port Macquarie-Hastings average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.4/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 98% of Port Macquarie-Hastings suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,827/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$2,369/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Riverside'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 Riverside
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Riverside Ferry, 2,027 m away, about a 25 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Port Macquarie Private Hospital, 5,381 m away, about a 67 minute walk.
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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Riverside to Port Macquarie CBD?
Driving saves Riverside residents $885 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,515 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Riverside?
Riverside falls under Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,370 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,370 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Riverside?
Running a unit in Riverside costs approximately $6,495 per year by car or $7,380 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,370, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $810. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Riverside close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Riverside is Riverside Ferry, a ferry stop about 2,027 m away, about a 25 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 Riverside?
The closest hospital to the centre of Riverside is Port Macquarie Private Hospital, about 5,381 m away, about a 67 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 Riverside?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Riverside 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: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Regional NSW estimate. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.