SuburbCost blog
Data-driven analysis on the real annual cost of Brisbane and Queensland suburbs.
Data-driven guides to Brisbane suburb costs, built from government sources. Find the cheapest Brisbane suburbs to run, the best suburbs for families, which areas carry the lowest flood risk, and how much council rates, commute, and insurance actually cost, by suburb, by council area, and side by side.
Cost index
The 2026 Greater Brisbane Suburb Running Cost Index
A house in Jimna costs $22,591 per year to run. In Brisbane City, $5,151. We ranked 514 Greater Brisbane suburbs by total annual running cost across 5 council areas.
Council rates
Brisbane council rates 2026: what you actually pay by council area
Brisbane City Council residential rates are $1,519 per year for houses and $999 for units in 2026. Here's what each council area charges and why rates vary between suburbs.
Commute costs
Drive vs train in Brisbane: the annual commute cost by suburb (2026)
Public transport costs $192 per year from any Brisbane suburb. Driving costs $803 from Chermside, $1,183 from Aspley, $2,703 from North Lakes. The full suburb-by-suburb comparison.
Annual costs
True annual running cost of Brisbane suburbs in 2026: inner, middle, outer
A Brisbane house costs $5,996 per year to run in a middle-ring suburb like Chermside. Inner suburbs cost less to commute. Outer suburbs can cost $4,000 more per year in driving alone.
Unit vs house
Brisbane unit vs house: annual running costs compared (2026)
In Chermside, a unit costs $7,126 per year to run and a house costs $5,996. Units pay $520 less in council rates but $3,000 more in body corporate. Here's what the data shows.
Flood risk
Brisbane flood-risk suburbs: the annual insurance cost penalty (2026)
A low-risk suburb like Chermside carries an estimated annual insurance premium of $1,850. Medium flood risk suburbs add several hundred dollars. High flood risk adds more still.