Updated October 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
A quantity surveyor's tax depreciation schedule costs $500–$800 for a full-inspection residential report in Cairns in 2026, $300–$450 desktop, and $1,100–$3,500+ for commercial property; insurance valuations run $450–$1,100 and construction cost plans $1,350–$5,500+.
Quick answerBefore you book a quantity surveyor in Cairns, ask whether a site visit is included, how many years of depreciation the report covers and whether the fee is tax deductible for you.
Detailed Pricing — Quantity Surveyor Cost in Cairns 2026
+1.5%
Tier
Typical fee
What it funds
Desktop / self-assessed depreciation schedule
$300–$450
No site visit. Suits newer builds with documented costs.
Full-inspection residential schedule
$500–$800
QS inspects and itemises Division 40 and 43 assets. Lasts 40 years, fee is deductible.
Commercial / mixed-use schedule
$1,100–$3,500+
Offices, retail, industrial. Priced on floor area and fit-out complexity.
Insurance replacement-cost report
$450–$1,100
Rebuild valuation for strata or owner insurance.
Cost plan / sinking fund / DA cost report
$1,350–$5,500+
Construction estimating for developers, strata committees and council submissions.
Quantity surveyor in Cairns: local notes
A Cairns quantity surveyor who explains the fee in writing before starting is easier to hold to the quote.
Keep the quantity surveyor's quote, any variation and the final invoice together; Cairns disputes are far simpler with paper.
If you are comparing a Cairns firm with one working remotely, ask who does the work and how you will meet.
Our Cairns band is a guide to typical quantity surveyor fees, not a fixed price; your own scope sets the final figure.
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Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 90+ Australian trade pricing sources · See methodology
What Actually Moves the Quantity Surveyor Cost in Cairns
Cairns Aero averages 436.1 mm of rain in February and 26.9 mm in August (BOM, Cairns Aero), so site visits in the wet months can need rescheduling.
71.0% of Cairns dwellings are separate houses and 17.0% are flats or apartments, against 12.5% across Queensland (ABS 2021 Census); that mix shapes what a quantity surveyor is asked to do here.
36.1% of Cairns households rent, above the Queensland figure of 33.1% (ABS 2021 Census), which brings investors into the quantity surveyor market.
Get two or three written Cairns quotes for the same scope, so the quantity surveyor fees you compare cover the same work.
If a Cairns quantity surveyor quote sits outside our band, ask what is included before you rule it out: whether a site visit is included is the usual difference.
Get a fair Quantity Surveyor quote in Cairns
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How to Keep the Quantity Surveyor Cost Sane in Cairns
1
Searching for what a "surveyor" costs? A land surveyor marks boundaries and a quantity surveyor costs buildings, so make sure the quotes you compare are for the right job.
2
Ask whether the full-inspection price covers travel to your suburb, and whether a desktop schedule is an option if the home is new and its costs are documented.
3
Book an insurance replacement-cost review ahead of the November to April cyclone season and adjust your sum insured if the figure has moved.
4
For a construction cost estimate, the ATO looks to an appropriately qualified person such as a quantity surveyor; a published building cost guide used on its own won't be accepted.
5
The ATO lets you claim a deduction for the fees paid to obtain a construction cost estimate, so file the invoice with your rental records.
6
Tell the surveyor about every renovation and extension and when each was finished, since capital works are worked out on construction cost and claims start only once the work is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions — Quantity Surveyor Cost in Cairns
Cairns figures: a desktop (self-assessed) schedule $300–$450; a full-inspection residential schedule $500–$800; a commercial or mixed-use schedule $1,100–$3,500+.
Is the quantity surveyor's fee tax deductible?
Yes. The cost of preparing a depreciation schedule is fully deductible in the year it's paid.
How long does a depreciation schedule last?
The report covers the remaining life of the building allowance, up to 40 years. You order it once.
Can my accountant prepare a depreciation schedule?
Not usually. Where actual construction costs aren't known, the ATO accepts an estimate from a quantity surveyor or other independent qualified person.
What changed in May 2017?
Second-hand plant and equipment in residential properties bought after 9 May 2017 generally can't be depreciated. Capital works on the building itself still can.
What's an insurance replacement-cost report?
A QS valuation of what it would cost to rebuild the property today, used to set strata or owner insurance sums and avoid under-insurance.
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no provider can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →