Barrack Heights vs Blackbutt: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Barrack Heights and Blackbutt are both Shellharbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 83.7 km and 85.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Blackbutt runs $738 a year cheaper than Barrack Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,460.
Over 10 years, Blackbutt costs about $8,500 less to run than Barrack Heights — the same as paying $8,500 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Barrack Heights
Blackbutt
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Barrack Heights | Blackbutt | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,656 | $3,718 | -$62 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $2,000 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,869 | $9,131 | +$738 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,613 | $7,813 | +$800 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Barrack Heights | Blackbutt | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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 — Barrack Heights vs Blackbutt (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackbutt costs $738 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,460 in favour of Blackbutt.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Barrack Heights carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $8,613 from Barrack Heights versus $7,813 from Blackbutt.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,865 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Barrack Heights by $62 a year, $3,656 against $3,718.
- Building insurance favours Blackbutt by $800 a year, $2,000 against $2,800.
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 Barrack Heights against low in Blackbutt, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Blackbutt against low in Barrack Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.4 in Barrack Heights against 2.8 in Blackbutt, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Barrack Heights cumulative | Blackbutt cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,869 | $9,131 | $738 |
| Year 3 | $30,504 | $28,223 | $2,281 |
| Year 5 | $52,396 | $48,478 | $3,918 |
| Year 10 | $113,137 | $104,677 | $8,460 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barrack Heights or Blackbutt cheaper to live in?
Blackbutt is cheaper to run by car at $9,131 per year versus $9,869 for Barrack Heights, a difference of $738 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Barrack Heights and Blackbutt?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Barrack Heights (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Blackbutt (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Barrack Heights and $1,548 in Blackbutt. 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 Barrack Heights and Blackbutt?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,656 from Barrack Heights and $3,718 from Blackbutt to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Barrack Heights and $2,400 from Blackbutt.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Barrack Heights and Blackbutt?
At 3% annual cost growth, Barrack Heights costs a cumulative $113,137 and Blackbutt costs $104,677 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,460 in favour of Blackbutt. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Barrack Heights and Blackbutt is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Shellharbour rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.