True annual cost of living in Windermere, NSW 2321
Living in a house in Windermere costs about $12,770 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Windermere sits 41.9 kilometres from Newcastle CBD. Unit costs come in at $12,680, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 41.9km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $4,573 more per year than public transport users.
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.4/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 51% of Maitland suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Windermere'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 Windermere
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Lochinvar, 5,187 m away, about a 65 minute walk. It is a train stop.
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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Windermere to Newcastle CBD?
Public transport saves Windermere residents $4,573 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $6,973 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Windermere?
Windermere falls under Maitland Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,970 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 $1,970 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Windermere?
Running a unit in Windermere costs approximately $12,680 per year by car or $8,107 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,970, water and sewerage $1,377, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $560. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Windermere close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Windermere is Lochinvar, a train stop about 5,187 m away, about a 65 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 shops and parks are in Windermere?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Windermere 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: Maitland rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Hunter Water 2026-27. 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.