Batar Creek vs Kendall: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Batar Creek and Kendall are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 33.9 km and 30 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Batar Creek runs $826 a year cheaper than Kendall, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,469.
Over 10 years, Batar Creek costs about $9,500 less to run than Kendall — the same as paying $9,500 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 →Batar Creek
Kendall
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Batar Creek | Kendall | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,826 | $6,552 | +$274 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $3,500 | -$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,896 | $12,722 | -$826 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,470 | $8,570 | -$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Batar Creek | Kendall | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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 — Batar Creek vs Kendall (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Batar Creek costs $826 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,469 in favour of Batar Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Kendall carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $7,470 from Batar Creek versus $8,570 from Kendall.
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 Kendall by $274 a year, $6,552 against $6,826.
- Building insurance favours Batar Creek by $1,100 a year, $2,400 against $3,500.
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 Kendall against low in Batar Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Batar Creek cumulative | Kendall cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,896 | $12,722 | $826 |
| Year 3 | $36,769 | $39,322 | $2,553 |
| Year 5 | $63,157 | $67,543 | $4,386 |
| Year 10 | $136,374 | $145,843 | $9,469 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Batar Creek or Kendall cheaper to live in?
Batar Creek is cheaper to run by car at $11,896 per year versus $12,722 for Kendall, a difference of $826 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Batar Creek and Kendall?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Batar Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Kendall (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Batar Creek and $1,300 in Kendall. 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 Batar Creek and Kendall?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,826 from Batar Creek and $6,552 from Kendall to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Batar Creek and $2,400 from Kendall.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Batar Creek and Kendall?
At 3% annual cost growth, Batar Creek costs a cumulative $136,374 and Kendall costs $145,843 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,469 in favour of Batar Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Batar Creek and Kendall 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.