True annual cost of living in West Kempsey, NSW 2440
Living in a house in West Kempsey costs about $12,856 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. West Kempsey sits 42.4 kilometres from Port Macquarie CBD. Unit costs come in at $11,966, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,500 body corporate levy. At 42.4km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $4,564 more per year than public transport users.
ATO 91c/km · 42.4km from Port Macquarie CBD · 192 days
$6,964
Home insurance
Estimated · flood High · fire Medium
$3,100
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,500
Total annual running cost
$12,856
($1,071/month)
↓ 29% below Kempsey average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○4.6/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 71% of Kempsey 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 West Kempsey'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 Kempsey
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Kempsey Coach Terminal, 1,980 m away, about a 25 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Kempsey District Hospital, 1,335 m away, about a 17 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
13
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 West Kempsey to Port Macquarie CBD?
Public transport saves West Kempsey residents $4,564 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $6,964 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in West Kempsey?
West Kempsey falls under Kempsey Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,492 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 $1,492 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 Kempsey?
Running a unit in West Kempsey costs approximately $11,966 per year by car or $7,402 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,492, water and sewerage $1,300, estimated body corporate levy of $1,500, and contents insurance of $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is West Kempsey close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of West Kempsey is Kempsey Coach Terminal, a bus stop about 1,980 m away, about a 25 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 Kempsey?
The closest hospital to the centre of West Kempsey is Kempsey District Hospital, about 1,335 m away, about a 17 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 Kempsey?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of West Kempsey there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 13 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: Kempsey 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.