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.
Frazers Creek runs $345 a year cheaper than Beechwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,955.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Beechwood
Frazers Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beechwood | Frazers Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,651 | $6,006 | -$355 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,400 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,421 | $11,076 | +$345 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,170 | $7,470 | +$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Frazers Creek costs $345 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,955 in favour of Frazers Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Beechwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $8,170 from Beechwood versus $7,470 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 $700 a year, $2,400 against $3,100.
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 | $11,421 | $11,076 | $345 |
| Year 3 | $35,301 | $34,235 | $1,066 |
| Year 5 | $60,636 | $58,804 | $1,832 |
| Year 10 | $130,929 | $126,974 | $3,955 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beechwood or Frazers Creek cheaper to live in?
Frazers Creek is cheaper to run by car at $11,076 per year versus $11,421 for Beechwood, a difference of $345 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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). Public transport costs $2,400 from Beechwood and $2,400 from Frazers Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Beechwood and Frazers Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beechwood costs a cumulative $130,929 and Frazers Creek costs $126,974 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,955 in favour of Frazers Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beechwood and Frazers Creek 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.