True annual cost of living in Sapphire Beach, NSW 2450
Living in a house in Sapphire Beach costs about $7,587 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Sapphire Beach sits 7.4 kilometres from Coffs Harbour CBD. Unit costs come in at $7,197, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $53 per year at this distance.
ATO 91c/km · 7.4km from Coffs Harbour CBD · 192 days
$2,347
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire Medium
$2,450
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$7,587
($632/month)
↓ 23% below Coffs Harbour average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.4/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 87% of Coffs Harbour suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,774/yr
5,086 kWh
Unit
$2,329/yr
3,815 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Sapphire Beach'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 Sapphire Beach
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
1
Parks
3
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 Sapphire Beach to Coffs Harbour CBD?
Driving saves Sapphire Beach residents $53 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,347 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Sapphire Beach?
Sapphire Beach falls under Coffs Harbour Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,490 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 $1,490 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Sapphire Beach?
Running a unit in Sapphire Beach costs approximately $7,197 per year by car or $7,250 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,490, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $560. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Sapphire Beach close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Sapphire Beach. 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 Sapphire Beach?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Sapphire Beach there are 0 supermarkets, 1 cafe and 3 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: Coffs Harbour 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.