Living in a house in West End costs about $6,964 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. West End sits 2.4 kilometres from Brisbane CBD. Unit costs reach $10,032, 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 $134 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$10,032
Incl. body corporate
$836/month
About $193 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$3,068
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 · 2.4km from CBD · 192 days
$814
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Low
$3,300
Body corporate
Estimated
$5,500
Total annual running cost
$6,964
($580/month, $134/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 95% 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 West End'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 West End
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
West End ferry terminal, 810 m away, about a 10 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
The Wesley Hospital, 987 m away, about a 12 minute walk.
Supermarkets
27
Cafes
154
Parks
90
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 West End to the CBD?
Public transport saves West End residents $622 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $814 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in West End?
West End 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 West End?
Running a unit in West End costs approximately $10,032 per year by car or $9,410 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 $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is West End close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of West End is West End ferry terminal, a ferry stop about 810 m away, about a 10 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 West End?
The closest hospital to the centre of West End is The Wesley Hospital, about 987 m away, about a 12 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 West End?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of West End there are 27 supermarkets, 154 cafes and 90 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.