True annual cost of living in South Wellesley Islands, QLD 4871
Living in a house in South Wellesley Islands costs about $24,831 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. South Wellesley Islands sits more than 100 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $23,311, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,400 body corporate levy. 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 $478 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$23,311
Incl. body corporate
$1,943/month
About $448 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
−$1,520
Unit is cheaper per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Estimated Cairns Regional Council rate, standing in for Mornington Shire Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage
$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
$3,700
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,400
Total annual running cost
$24,831
($2,069/month, $478/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).
↑ 74% above Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○3.2/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 1% of Cairns Regional 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 South Wellesley Islands'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 Wellesley Islands
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 South Wellesley Islands with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about South Wellesley Islands
How is driving costed for South Wellesley Islands?
South Wellesley Islands 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 South Wellesley Islands?
South Wellesley Islands falls under Mornington Shire Council. We do not yet hold that council's published rates, so the figure on this page is Cairns Regional Council's minimum residential general rate, used as a stand-in. Treat it as an indication of the order of magnitude rather than what South Wellesley Islands ratepayers are charged, and check Mornington Shire Council's own schedule before relying on it.
What does it cost to run a unit in South Wellesley Islands?
Running a unit in South Wellesley Islands costs approximately $23,311 per year by car or $23,311 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $1,400, and contents insurance of $780. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is South Wellesley Islands close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of South Wellesley Islands. 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 South Wellesley Islands?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of South Wellesley Islands 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: Cairns Regional 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.