Beechwood vs Mortons 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 Mortons Creek are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.5 km and 22.5 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mortons Creek runs $600 a year cheaper than Beechwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,879.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mortons Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beechwood | Mortons 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 | $5,651 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,651 | $5,651 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $2,150 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,071 | $10,471 | +$600 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,071 | $10,471 | +$600 |
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 | Mortons 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 Mortons Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beechwood and Mortons Creek differ by $600 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 $0, 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 $600 per year, $11,071 from Beechwood versus $10,471 from Mortons 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 is identical at $5,651 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mortons 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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Beechwood against low in Mortons Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Mortons Creek against medium in Beechwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Beechwood cumulative | Mortons Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,071 | $10,471 | $600 |
| Year 3 | $34,219 | $32,365 | $1,854 |
| Year 5 | $58,777 | $55,592 | $3,185 |
| Year 10 | $126,917 | $120,038 | $6,879 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beechwood or Mortons Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Beechwood runs $11,071 a year by car and Mortons Creek $10,471, but most of the $600 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Beechwood and Mortons Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Beechwood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Mortons Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Beechwood and $1,300 in Mortons 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 Mortons Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,651 from Beechwood and $5,651 from Mortons 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 Mortons Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beechwood costs a cumulative $126,917 and Mortons Creek costs $120,038 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,879 in favour of Mortons Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beechwood and Mortons 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.