Ashgrove vs Red Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ashgrove and Red Hill are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 5 km and 3 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Red Hill runs $1,529 a year cheaper than Ashgrove, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $17,529.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $17,500, about $34 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Red Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ashgrove | Red Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,638 | $1,009 | +$629 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,350 | +$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,200 | $3,800 | -$600 |
| Total (driving) | $6,738 | $5,209 | +$1,529 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,292 | $4,392 | +$900 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Ashgrove | Red Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Ashgrove vs Red Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ashgrove and Red Hill differ by $1,529 a year by car, but $900 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $629, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. Ashgrove carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $5,292 from Ashgrove versus $4,392 from Red Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Red Hill by $629 a year, $1,009 against $1,638.
- Building insurance favours Red Hill by $900 a year, $1,350 against $2,250.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Ashgrove against low in Red Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Ashgrove against low in Red Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ashgrove cumulative | Red Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,738 | $5,209 | $1,529 |
| Year 3 | $20,826 | $16,100 | $4,726 |
| Year 5 | $35,773 | $27,655 | $8,118 |
| Year 10 | $77,244 | $59,715 | $17,529 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashgrove or Red Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ashgrove runs $6,738 a year by car and Red Hill $5,209, but most of the $1,529 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $629. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ashgrove and Red Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Ashgrove (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Red Hill (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Ashgrove and $1,900 in Red Hill. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Ashgrove and Red Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,638 from Ashgrove and $1,009 from Red Hill to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Ashgrove and $192 from Red Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ashgrove and Red Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ashgrove costs a cumulative $77,244 and Red Hill costs $59,715 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $17,529 in favour of Red Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ashgrove and Red Hill suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City Council 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.