Ashtonfield vs Tenambit: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ashtonfield and Tenambit are both Maitland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.6 km and 26.3 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Ashtonfield runs $616 a year cheaper than Tenambit, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,062.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Ashtonfield
Tenambit
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ashtonfield | Tenambit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,970 | $1,970 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,953 | $6,169 | -$216 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,800 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,700 | $12,316 | -$616 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,147 | $8,547 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Ashtonfield | Tenambit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 — Ashtonfield vs Tenambit (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ashtonfield costs $616 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,062 in favour of Ashtonfield.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Tenambit carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,147 from Ashtonfield versus $8,547 from Tenambit.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,970 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ashtonfield by $216 a year, $5,953 against $6,169.
- Building insurance favours Ashtonfield by $400 a year, $2,400 against $2,800.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Tenambit against low in Ashtonfield, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Ashtonfield against low in Tenambit, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.2 in Ashtonfield against 3.3 in Tenambit, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ashtonfield cumulative | Tenambit cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,700 | $12,316 | $616 |
| Year 3 | $36,164 | $38,068 | $1,904 |
| Year 5 | $62,117 | $65,387 | $3,270 |
| Year 10 | $134,127 | $141,189 | $7,062 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashtonfield or Tenambit cheaper to live in?
Ashtonfield is cheaper to run by car at $11,700 per year versus $12,316 for Tenambit, a difference of $616 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ashtonfield and Tenambit?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Ashtonfield (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Tenambit (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Ashtonfield and $1,377 in Tenambit. 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 Ashtonfield and Tenambit?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,953 from Ashtonfield and $6,169 from Tenambit to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ashtonfield and $2,400 from Tenambit.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ashtonfield and Tenambit?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ashtonfield costs a cumulative $134,127 and Tenambit costs $141,189 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,062 in favour of Ashtonfield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ashtonfield and Tenambit is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Maitland rates (OLG and Maitland rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.