Balgal Beach vs Rollingstone, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balgal Beach and Rollingstone are both Townsville City Council suburbs, sitting 49.1 km and 51.8 km from Townsville CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Balgal Beach runs $303 a year cheaper than Rollingstone, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,473.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rollingstone
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balgal Beach | Rollingstone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,343 | $1,343 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,099 | $2,099 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,627 | $6,380 | +$247 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,600 | $4,150 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,600 | $1,500 | +$100 |
| Total (driving) | $13,669 | $13,972 | -$303 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,234 | $7,784 | -$550 |
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 | Balgal Beach | Rollingstone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,373 | $2,373 | - |
| Unit | $1,945 | $1,945 | - |
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, Balgal Beach vs Rollingstone (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balgal Beach and Rollingstone differ by $303 a year by car, but $550 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 $247, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $7,234 from Balgal Beach versus $7,784 from Rollingstone.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,343 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,099 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rollingstone by $247 a year, $6,380 against $6,627.
- Building insurance favours Balgal Beach by $550 a year, $3,600 against $4,150.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balgal Beach cumulative | Rollingstone cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,669 | $13,972 | $303 |
| Year 3 | $42,250 | $43,186 | $936 |
| Year 5 | $72,571 | $74,179 | $1,608 |
| Year 10 | $156,700 | $160,173 | $3,473 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balgal Beach or Rollingstone cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balgal Beach runs $13,669 a year by car and Rollingstone $13,972, but most of the $303 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $247. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balgal Beach and Rollingstone?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,343 in Balgal Beach (Townsville City Council) and $1,343 in Rollingstone (Townsville City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,099 in Balgal Beach and $2,099 in Rollingstone. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Balgal Beach and Rollingstone?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,627 from Balgal Beach and $6,380 from Rollingstone to Townsville CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Balgal Beach and $192 from Rollingstone.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balgal Beach and Rollingstone?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balgal Beach costs a cumulative $156,700 and Rollingstone costs $160,173 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,473 in favour of Balgal Beach. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balgal Beach and Rollingstone suits you better?
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Sources: Townsville City Council and Townsville 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.