Barnsley vs Killingworth, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Barnsley and Killingworth are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.1 km and 20.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $151 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 $1,700, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Killingworth
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Barnsley | Killingworth | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $5,345 | -$451 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,884 | $10,035 | -$151 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,090 | +$300 |
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 | Barnsley | Killingworth | 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, Barnsley vs Killingworth (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Barnsley and Killingworth differ by $151 a year by car, but $300 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 $451, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $451 per year. Killingworth is 20.6 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,390 from Barnsley versus $7,090 from Killingworth.
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 Barnsley by $451 a year, $4,894 against $5,345.
- Building insurance favours Killingworth by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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 Barnsley against low in Killingworth, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Barnsley cumulative | Killingworth cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,884 | $10,035 | $151 |
| Year 3 | $30,550 | $31,017 | $467 |
| Year 5 | $52,475 | $53,277 | $802 |
| Year 10 | $113,309 | $115,040 | $1,731 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barnsley or Killingworth cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Barnsley runs $9,884 a year by car and Killingworth $10,035, but most of the $151 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $451. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Barnsley and Killingworth?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Barnsley (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Killingworth (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Barnsley and $1,377 in Killingworth. 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 Barnsley and Killingworth?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,894 from Barnsley and $5,345 from Killingworth to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Barnsley and $2,400 from Killingworth.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Barnsley and Killingworth?
At 3% annual cost growth, Barnsley costs a cumulative $113,309 and Killingworth costs $115,040 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,731 in favour of Barnsley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Barnsley and Killingworth 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.