Living in a house in Southport costs about $6,876 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Southport sits 1.6 kilometres from Gold Coast CBD. Unit costs reach $10,256, 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.
Cheaper to run than 99% of City of Gold Coast 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 Southport'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 Southport
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Queen Street, 702 m away, about a 9 minute walk. It is a light rail stop.
Nearest hospital
Gold Coast Private Hospital, 2,084 m away, about a 26 minute walk.
Supermarkets
9
Cafes
39
Parks
62
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 Southport to Gold Coast CBD?
Public transport saves Southport residents $356 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $548 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Southport?
Southport falls under City of Gold Coast. The minimum residential general rate for 2026-27 is $1,359 per year for an owner-occupied house. Properties on higher land value pay more. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,359 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Southport?
Running a unit in Southport costs approximately $10,256 per year by car or $9,900 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,359, water and sewerage $2,169, estimated body corporate levy of $5,500, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Southport close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Southport is Queen Street, a light rail stop about 702 m away, about a 9 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 Southport?
The closest hospital to the centre of Southport is Gold Coast Private Hospital, about 2,084 m away, about a 26 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 Southport?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Southport there are 9 supermarkets, 39 cafes and 62 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: City of Gold Coast 2026-27. Water: City of Gold Coast 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.