Living in a house in Rowes Bay costs about $9,601 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Rowes Bay sits 4.1 kilometres from Townsville CBD. Unit costs come in at $7,721, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,200 body corporate levy. Transport mode has the biggest effect on total cost in a suburb this close to the city.
Cheaper to run than 86% 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 Rowes Bay'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 Rowes Bay
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Townsville, 4,151 m away, about a 52 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Weststate Private Hospital, 3,798 m away, about a 47 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
2
Parks
7
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 Rowes Bay to Townsville CBD?
Public transport saves Rowes Bay residents $1,167 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,359 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Rowes Bay?
Rowes Bay falls under Townsville City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,343 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,343 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Rowes Bay?
Running a unit in Rowes Bay costs approximately $7,721 per year by car or $6,554 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,343, water and sewerage $2,099, estimated body corporate levy of $2,200, and contents insurance of $720. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Rowes Bay close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Rowes Bay is Townsville, a train stop about 4,151 m away, about a 52 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 Rowes Bay?
The closest hospital to the centre of Rowes Bay is Weststate Private Hospital, about 3,798 m away, about a 47 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 Rowes Bay?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Rowes Bay there are 0 supermarkets, 2 cafes and 7 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: 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.