Austinville vs Neranwood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Austinville and Neranwood are both City of Gold Coast suburbs, sitting 21.1 km and 16.9 km from Gold Coast CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Neranwood runs $671 a year cheaper than Austinville, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,692.
Over 10 years, Neranwood costs about $7,700 less to run than Austinville. That's about $15 a week.
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Neranwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Austinville | Neranwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,359 | $1,359 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,169 | $2,169 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,429 | $4,658 | +$771 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,200 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $2,200 | -$200 |
| Total (driving) | $11,057 | $10,386 | +$671 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,820 | $5,920 | -$100 |
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 | Austinville | Neranwood | 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, Austinville vs Neranwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Neranwood costs $671 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,692 in favour of Neranwood.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $771 per year. Austinville is 21.1 km from Gold Coast CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,820 and $5,920 a year, so the $671 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,359 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,169 a year.
- Driving commute favours Neranwood by $771 a year, $4,658 against $5,429.
- Building insurance favours Austinville by $100 a year, $2,100 against $2,200.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.2 in Austinville against 7 in Neranwood, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Austinville cumulative | Neranwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,057 | $10,386 | $671 |
| Year 3 | $34,176 | $32,102 | $2,074 |
| Year 5 | $58,703 | $55,141 | $3,562 |
| Year 10 | $126,756 | $119,064 | $7,692 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austinville or Neranwood cheaper to live in?
Neranwood is cheaper to run by car at $10,386 per year versus $11,057 for Austinville, a difference of $671 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Austinville and Neranwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,359 in Austinville (City of Gold Coast) and $1,359 in Neranwood (City of Gold Coast). Water and sewerage adds $2,169 in Austinville and $2,169 in Neranwood. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Austinville and Neranwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,429 from Austinville and $4,658 from Neranwood to Gold Coast CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Austinville and $192 from Neranwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Austinville and Neranwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Austinville costs a cumulative $126,756 and Neranwood costs $119,064 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,692 in favour of Neranwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Austinville and Neranwood suits you better?
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Sources: City of Gold Coast and City of Gold Coast 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.