Ballengarra vs Cairncross, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ballengarra and Cairncross are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.6 km and 21.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cairncross runs $432 a year cheaper than Ballengarra, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,952.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,000, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cairncross
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ballengarra | Cairncross | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $5,478 | +$32 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $5,478 | +$32 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,550 | $2,150 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,730 | $10,298 | +$432 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,730 | $10,298 | +$432 |
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 | Ballengarra | Cairncross | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,827 | -$53 |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,369 | -$40 |
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, Ballengarra vs Cairncross (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ballengarra and Cairncross differ by $432 a year by car, but $400 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 $32, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Ballengarra carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $432 per year, $10,730 from Ballengarra versus $10,298 from Cairncross.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cairncross by $32 a year, $5,478 against $5,510.
- Building insurance favours Cairncross by $400 a year, $2,150 against $2,550.
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 Ballengarra against low in Cairncross, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ballengarra cumulative | Cairncross cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,730 | $10,298 | $432 |
| Year 3 | $33,165 | $31,830 | $1,335 |
| Year 5 | $56,967 | $54,673 | $2,294 |
| Year 10 | $123,007 | $118,055 | $4,952 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ballengarra or Cairncross cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ballengarra runs $10,730 a year by car and Cairncross $10,298, but most of the $432 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $32. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ballengarra and Cairncross?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Ballengarra (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Cairncross (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ballengarra and $1,300 in Cairncross. 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 Ballengarra and Cairncross?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,510 from Ballengarra and $5,478 from Cairncross to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ballengarra and Cairncross?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ballengarra costs a cumulative $123,007 and Cairncross costs $118,055 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,952 in favour of Cairncross. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ballengarra and Cairncross suits you better?
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Sources: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings 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.