Beechwood vs Frazers Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Beechwood and Frazers Creek are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.5 km and 25 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $245 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 $2,800, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Beechwood
Frazers Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beechwood | Frazers Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,651 | $6,006 | -$355 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,651 | $6,006 | -$355 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $2,150 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,071 | $10,826 | +$245 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,071 | $10,826 | +$245 |
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 | Beechwood | Frazers Creek | 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, Beechwood vs Frazers Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beechwood and Frazers Creek differ by $245 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 $355, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Beechwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $245 per year, $11,071 from Beechwood versus $10,826 from Frazers Creek.
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 Beechwood by $355 a year, $5,651 against $6,006.
- Building insurance favours Frazers Creek by $600 a year, $2,150 against $2,750.
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 Beechwood against low in Frazers Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Frazers Creek against medium in Beechwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Beechwood cumulative | Frazers Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,071 | $10,826 | $245 |
| Year 3 | $34,219 | $33,462 | $757 |
| Year 5 | $58,777 | $57,477 | $1,300 |
| Year 10 | $126,917 | $124,108 | $2,809 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beechwood or Frazers Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Beechwood runs $11,071 a year by car and Frazers Creek $10,826, but most of the $245 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $355. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Beechwood and Frazers Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Beechwood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Frazers Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Beechwood and $1,300 in Frazers Creek. 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 Beechwood and Frazers Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,651 from Beechwood and $6,006 from Frazers Creek to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Beechwood and Frazers Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beechwood costs a cumulative $126,917 and Frazers Creek costs $124,108 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,809 in favour of Frazers Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beechwood and Frazers Creek suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.