True annual cost of living in South Brisbane, QLD 4101
Living in a house in South Brisbane costs about $5,514 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. South Brisbane sits 1.1 kilometres from Brisbane CBD. Unit costs reach $9,552, with the $5,500 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 $106 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$9,552
Incl. body corporate
$796/month
About $184 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$4,038
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Brisbane City Council
$950
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Queensland Urban Utilities
$1,900
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 1.1km from CBD · 192 days
$514
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Low
$2,150
Body corporate
Estimated
$5,500
Total annual running cost
$5,514
($460/month, $106/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).
Cheaper to run than 100% of Brisbane City Council 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 South Brisbane'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 South Brisbane
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
South Bank, 333 m away, about a 4 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Queensland Children's Hospital, 888 m away, about an 11 minute walk.
Supermarkets
32
Cafes
242
Parks
81
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 South Brisbane to the CBD?
Public transport saves South Brisbane residents $322 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $514 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in South Brisbane?
South Brisbane falls under Brisbane City Council. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $950 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,138 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in South Brisbane?
Running a unit in South Brisbane costs approximately $9,552 per year by car or $9,230 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,138, water and sewerage $1,900, estimated body corporate levy of $5,500, and contents insurance of $500. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is South Brisbane close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of South Brisbane is South Bank, a bus stop about 333 m away, about a 4 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 South Brisbane?
The closest hospital to the centre of South Brisbane is Queensland Children's Hospital, about 888 m away, about an 11 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 South Brisbane?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of South Brisbane there are 32 supermarkets, 242 cafes and 81 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
School scores & catchments
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Data sources: Council rates: Brisbane City Council 2026-27. Water: Queensland Urban Utilities 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.