Argents Hill vs Buckra Bendinni, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Argents Hill and Buckra Bendinni are both Nambucca Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Argents Hill runs $11,931 a year cheaper than Buckra Bendinni, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $136,776.
Over 10 years, Argents Hill costs about $136,800 less to run than Buckra Bendinni. That's about $263 a week.
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Buckra Bendinni
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Argents Hill | Buckra Bendinni | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,175 | $1,175 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,569 | $18,200 | -$11,631 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,569 | $18,200 | -$11,631 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,544 | $22,475 | -$11,931 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,544 | $22,475 | -$11,931 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Argents Hill | Buckra Bendinni | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Argents Hill vs Buckra Bendinni (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Argents Hill costs $11,931 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $136,776 in favour of Argents Hill.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,631 per year. Buckra Bendinni is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,931 per year, $10,544 from Argents Hill versus $22,475 from Buckra Bendinni.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,175 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Argents Hill by $11,631 a year, $6,569 against $18,200.
- Building insurance favours Argents Hill by $300 a year, $1,500 against $1,800.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Buckra Bendinni against medium in Argents Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Argents Hill cumulative | Buckra Bendinni cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,544 | $22,475 | $11,931 |
| Year 3 | $32,590 | $69,468 | $36,878 |
| Year 5 | $55,980 | $119,323 | $63,343 |
| Year 10 | $120,875 | $257,651 | $136,776 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Argents Hill or Buckra Bendinni cheaper to live in?
Argents Hill is cheaper to run by car at $10,544 per year versus $22,475 for Buckra Bendinni, a difference of $11,931 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Argents Hill and Buckra Bendinni?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,175 in Argents Hill (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG) and $1,175 in Buckra Bendinni (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Argents Hill and $1,300 in Buckra Bendinni. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Argents Hill and Buckra Bendinni?
Argents Hill is $6,569 a year to drive to Coffs Harbour CBD (ATO 91c/km). Buckra Bendinni carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Argents Hill and Buckra Bendinni?
At 3% annual cost growth, Argents Hill costs a cumulative $120,875 and Buckra Bendinni costs $257,651 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $136,776 in favour of Argents Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Argents Hill and Buckra Bendinni suits you better?
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Sources: Nambucca Valley rates (OLG and Nambucca Valley rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.