Bilinga vs Coolangatta

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Bilinga, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Coolangatta, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Bilinga: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.15 million in Coolangatta, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Coolangatta tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bilinga

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (23% vs 13%)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 8)
  • But Coolangatta has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Coolangatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,694,500 vs $2,225,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,145,000 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Bilinga sits closer to the CBD (98.5 km vs 103.5 km)
  • Coolangatta is more walkable (83/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coolangatta

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 42/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (87% vs 77%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bilinga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.2% vs 3.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bilinga and Coolangatta drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bilinga Coolangatta
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bilinga Coolangatta
Walkability 42 / 83
Bilinga — Walkability: 42/100 Coolangatta — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 8 / 12
Bilinga — Safety: 8/100 Coolangatta — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bilinga — Low fire risk: 100/100 Coolangatta — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Coolangatta has more residents (6,491 vs 1,883); Coolangatta skews older (50 vs 48).

Bilinga Coolangatta
Population 1,883 6,491
+245% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +9.1%
Median age 48 50
Median household income $74,620/yr
+7% vs other
 $69,212/yr
Median weekly rent $428/wk
+5% vs other
 $405/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bilinga Coolangatta
0-4 3.0% / 3.4%
Bilinga — 0-4: 3.0% Coolangatta — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 6.4% / 4.9%
Bilinga — 5-14: 6.4% Coolangatta — 5-14: 4.9%
15-19 3.4% / 2.9%
Bilinga — 15-19: 3.4% Coolangatta — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 5.3% / 5.9%
Bilinga — 20-24: 5.3% Coolangatta — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 18.7% / 17.1%
Bilinga — 25-34: 18.7% Coolangatta — 25-34: 17.1%
35-44 10.8% / 10.8%
Bilinga — 35-44: 10.8% Coolangatta — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.3% / 11.3%
Bilinga — 45-54: 11.3% Coolangatta — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 17.4% / 16.0%
Bilinga — 55-64: 17.4% Coolangatta — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 14.8% / 16.1%
Bilinga — 65-74: 14.8% Coolangatta — 65-74: 16.1%
75-84 6.4% / 7.6%
Bilinga — 75-84: 6.4% Coolangatta — 75-84: 7.6%
85+ 2.5% / 4.2%
Bilinga — 85+: 2.5% Coolangatta — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bilinga 52.4% lone person
Bilinga — Lone Person: 52.4% Bilinga — Couple Families: 20.1% Bilinga — One Parent Families: 13.3% Bilinga — Group Household: 13.0% Bilinga — Other Families: 1.2%
Coolangatta 56.6% lone person
Coolangatta — Lone Person: 56.6% Coolangatta — Couple Families: 18.7% Coolangatta — One Parent Families: 11.7% Coolangatta — Group Household: 11.4% Coolangatta — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bilinga 48.0% renting
Bilinga — Owned Outright: 30.4% Bilinga — Mortgage: 21.6% Bilinga — Renting: 48.0%
Coolangatta 42.5% renting
Coolangatta — Owned Outright: 37.7% Coolangatta — Mortgage: 19.8% Coolangatta — Renting: 42.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bilinga Coolangatta
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 16.0%
Bilinga — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Coolangatta — Certificate III & IV: 16.0%
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 15.9%
Bilinga — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Coolangatta — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 9.4%
Bilinga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Coolangatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 4.0%
Bilinga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Coolangatta — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.8%
Bilinga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Coolangatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bilinga Coolangatta
New Zealand 4.0% / 4.3%
Bilinga — New Zealand: 4.0% Coolangatta — New Zealand: 4.3%
England 3.0% / 3.9%
Bilinga — England: 3.0% Coolangatta — England: 3.9%
Brazil 0.9% / 2.5%
Bilinga — Brazil: 0.9% Coolangatta — Brazil: 2.5%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.6%
Bilinga — South Africa: 0.5% Coolangatta — South Africa: 0.6%
Italy 0.6% / 0.4%
Bilinga — Italy: 0.6% Coolangatta — Italy: 0.4%
India 0.7% / —
Bilinga — India: 0.7% Coolangatta — India: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.7%
Bilinga — Philippines: not among its largest Coolangatta — Philippines: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bilinga 73.2% flats / apartments
Bilinga — Flats / Apartments: 73.2% Bilinga — Houses: 23.2% Bilinga — Townhouses: 3.6%
Coolangatta 79.7% flats / apartments
Coolangatta — Flats / Apartments: 79.7% Coolangatta — Houses: 13.1% Coolangatta — Townhouses: 7.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Bilinga Coolangatta
Median house price $2,225,000 $1,694,500
Median unit price $1,400,000 $1,145,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 8 sales
 34 days
from 30 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bilinga Coolangatta
2 bed $1.07M / $1.17M
Bilinga — 2 bed: $1.07M (37 sales) Coolangatta — 2 bed: $1.17M (140 sales)

37 vs 140 sales

3 bed $2.06M / $1.65M
Bilinga — 3 bed: $2.06M (29 sales) Coolangatta — 3 bed: $1.65M (43 sales)

29 vs 43 sales

Development activity

Bilinga Coolangatta
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bilinga Coolangatta
Houses — 2.9%
$950/wk on $1.7M
Units 4.2%
$1,100/wk on $1.35M
 3.5%
$880/wk on $1.29M

Ranking within QLD

Bilinga Coolangatta
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 5% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 9% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of QLD Higher than 13% of QLD

Liveability

Coolangatta is more walkable (83 vs 42).

Bilinga Coolangatta
Grade C
same for both
Score 45/100
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bilinga Coolangatta
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
88/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
100/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Bilinga Coolangatta
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 0.0 km
 1
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.7%

Schools in Bilinga

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Coolangatta

  • Coolangatta State School Government · Primary at peers
  • The Village School Gold Coast Independent · Primary below peers
  • Hillcrest Christian College - Coolangatta Campus Independent · Secondary
  • Mastery Schools Australia - Coolangatta Campus Independent · Combined
  • The BUSY School - Coolangatta Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Bilinga Coolangatta
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 22
Parks & reserves 12 8
Childcare 1 3
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1
same for both
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Coolangatta sits further from the CBD (103.5 km vs 98.5 km).

Bilinga Coolangatta
Walkability score 42/100 83/100
Distance to Brisbane 98.5 km 103.5 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 73 min 76 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 105.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
same for both
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 4225
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 4225
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bilinga Coolangatta
Car (driver) 68.1% / 67.5%
Bilinga — Car (driver): 68.1% Coolangatta — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 17.7% / 17.4%
Bilinga — Worked from Home: 17.7% Coolangatta — Worked from Home: 17.4%
Walked Only 4.3% / 6.9%
Bilinga — Walked Only: 4.3% Coolangatta — Walked Only: 6.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 2.9%
Bilinga — Car (passenger): 4.5% Coolangatta — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bicycle 2.5% / 3.0%
Bilinga — Bicycle: 2.5% Coolangatta — Bicycle: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.1%).

Setting

Bilinga Coolangatta
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 596 m
646 m to a named beach
 422 m
420 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bilinga Coolangatta
Connectivity score 65/100 59/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
1,516 premises
 18%
5,887 premises

Climate

Bilinga Coolangatta
Annual rainfall 1,637 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bilinga Coolangatta
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bilinga Coolangatta
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Bilinga Coolangatta
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bilinga Coolangatta
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bilinga

Apartments Beach Coastal Luxury Parks

Coolangatta

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Parks Premium Retirees River Urban
Full data on Bilinga Full data on Coolangatta
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or