Living in a house in Yarrabah costs about $14,433 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Yarrabah sits 15.2 kilometres from Cairns CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,793, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 15.2km from Cairns CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $4,110. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Cairns Regional Council rate, standing in for Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
$1,166
Water & sewerage
Cairns Regional Council Water & Sewerage 2026-27
$1,765
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 15.2km from Cairns CBD · 192 days
$4,302
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Low
$7,200
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$14,433
($1,203/month)
↓ 20% below Cairns Regional Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.6/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 51% of Cairns Regional Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,373/yr
5,933 kWh
Unit
$1,945/yr
4,450 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Yarrabah'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 Yarrabah
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 Yarrabah with another suburb
Nearby: No nearby suburbs with data found
Frequently asked questions about Yarrabah
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Yarrabah to Cairns CBD?
Public transport saves Yarrabah residents $4,110 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,302 versus $192 by public transport using Translink's flat 50 cent fare.
What are the council rates in Yarrabah?
Yarrabah falls under Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council. We do not yet hold that council's published rates, so the figure on this page is Cairns Regional Council's minimum residential general rate, used as a stand-in. Treat it as an indication of the order of magnitude rather than what Yarrabah ratepayers are charged, and check Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council's own schedule before relying on it.
What does it cost to run a unit in Yarrabah?
Running a unit in Yarrabah costs approximately $9,793 per year by car or $5,683 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,166, water and sewerage $1,765, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $760. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Yarrabah close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Yarrabah. 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 Yarrabah?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Yarrabah 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: Cairns Regional Council 2026-27. Water: Cairns Regional Council 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.