True annual cost of living in Upper Orara, NSW 2450
Living in a house in Upper Orara costs about $8,899 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Upper Orara sits 12.6 kilometres from Coffs Harbour CBD. Unit costs come in at $8,549, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $1,309 per year at this distance.
ATO 91c/km · 12.6km from Coffs Harbour CBD · 192 days
$3,709
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire High
$2,400
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$8,899
($742/month)
↓ 10% below Coffs Harbour average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.3/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 70% 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 Upper Orara'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 Upper Orara
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 2026-08-07. 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.
Compare Upper Orara with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Upper Orara
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Upper Orara to Coffs Harbour CBD?
Public transport saves Upper Orara residents $1,309 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,709 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Upper Orara?
Upper Orara 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 Upper Orara?
Running a unit in Upper Orara costs approximately $8,549 per year by car or $7,240 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 $550. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Upper Orara close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Upper Orara. 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 Upper Orara?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Upper Orara 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: 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.