Bannockburn vs Windaroo, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bannockburn and Windaroo are both Logan City Council suburbs, sitting 36.2 km and 34.9 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Windaroo runs $649 a year cheaper than Bannockburn, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,440.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,400, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Windaroo
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bannockburn | Windaroo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,699 | $1,699 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,149 | $2,149 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,925 | $6,876 | +$49 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,650 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $2,200 | -$400 |
| Total (driving) | $13,023 | $12,374 | +$649 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,290 | $5,690 | +$600 |
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 | Bannockburn | Windaroo | 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, Bannockburn vs Windaroo (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bannockburn and Windaroo differ by $649 a year by car, but $600 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 $49, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $6,290 from Bannockburn versus $5,690 from Windaroo.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,699 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,149 a year.
- Driving commute favours Windaroo by $49 a year, $6,876 against $6,925.
- Building insurance favours Windaroo by $600 a year, $1,650 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 Bannockburn against medium in Windaroo, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bannockburn cumulative | Windaroo cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,023 | $12,374 | $649 |
| Year 3 | $40,253 | $38,247 | $2,006 |
| Year 5 | $69,141 | $65,695 | $3,446 |
| Year 10 | $149,294 | $141,854 | $7,440 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bannockburn or Windaroo cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bannockburn runs $13,023 a year by car and Windaroo $12,374, but most of the $649 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $49. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bannockburn and Windaroo?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,699 in Bannockburn (Logan City Council) and $1,699 in Windaroo (Logan City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,149 in Bannockburn and $2,149 in Windaroo. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Bannockburn and Windaroo?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,925 from Bannockburn and $6,876 from Windaroo to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Bannockburn and $192 from Windaroo.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bannockburn and Windaroo?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bannockburn costs a cumulative $149,294 and Windaroo costs $141,854 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,440 in favour of Windaroo. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bannockburn and Windaroo suits you better?
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Sources: Logan City Council and Logan 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.