Ballengarra vs Telegraph Point, 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 Telegraph Point are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.6 km and 17.7 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $143 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Ballengarra
Telegraph Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ballengarra | Telegraph Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $4,817 | +$693 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $4,817 | +$693 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,550 | $3,100 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,730 | $10,587 | +$143 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,730 | $10,587 | +$143 |
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 | Telegraph Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 Telegraph Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ballengarra and Telegraph Point differ by $143 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 $693, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $693 per year. Ballengarra is 21.6 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $10,730 and $10,587 a year, so the $143 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Telegraph Point by $693 a year, $4,817 against $5,510.
- Building insurance favours Ballengarra by $550 a year, $2,550 against $3,100.
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 Telegraph Point against medium in Ballengarra, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ballengarra cumulative | Telegraph Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,730 | $10,587 | $143 |
| Year 3 | $33,165 | $32,723 | $442 |
| Year 5 | $56,967 | $56,208 | $759 |
| Year 10 | $123,007 | $121,368 | $1,639 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ballengarra or Telegraph Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ballengarra runs $10,730 a year by car and Telegraph Point $10,587, but most of the $143 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $693. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ballengarra and Telegraph Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Ballengarra (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Telegraph Point (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ballengarra and $1,300 in Telegraph Point. 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 Telegraph Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,510 from Ballengarra and $4,817 from Telegraph Point 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 Telegraph Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ballengarra costs a cumulative $123,007 and Telegraph Point costs $121,368 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,639 in favour of Telegraph Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ballengarra and Telegraph Point 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.