Balmoral vs Fishing 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
Balmoral and Fishing Point are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 97.7 km and 97.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fishing Point runs $464 a year cheaper than Balmoral, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,319.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,300, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Fishing Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balmoral | Fishing Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,268 | $4,254 | +$14 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,800 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,658 | $9,194 | +$464 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,790 | $7,340 | +$450 |
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 | Balmoral | Fishing Point | 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, Balmoral vs Fishing Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balmoral and Fishing Point differ by $464 a year by car, but $450 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 $14, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Balmoral carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,790 from Balmoral versus $7,340 from Fishing Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Fishing Point by $14 a year, $4,254 against $4,268.
- Building insurance favours Fishing Point by $450 a year, $1,800 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Balmoral against low in Fishing Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balmoral cumulative | Fishing Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,658 | $9,194 | $464 |
| Year 3 | $29,852 | $28,418 | $1,434 |
| Year 5 | $51,276 | $48,812 | $2,464 |
| Year 10 | $110,718 | $105,399 | $5,319 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balmoral or Fishing Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balmoral runs $9,658 a year by car and Fishing Point $9,194, but most of the $464 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $14. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balmoral and Fishing Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Balmoral (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Fishing Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Balmoral and $1,377 in Fishing 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 Balmoral and Fishing Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,268 from Balmoral and $4,254 from Fishing Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balmoral and $2,400 from Fishing Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balmoral and Fishing Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balmoral costs a cumulative $110,718 and Fishing Point costs $105,399 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,319 in favour of Fishing Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balmoral and Fishing Point suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.