Beechwood vs Rosewood, 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 Rosewood are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.5 km and 21.9 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 $293 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 $3,400, about $6 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
Rosewood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beechwood | Rosewood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,651 | $5,558 | +$93 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,651 | $5,558 | +$93 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $2,550 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,071 | $10,778 | +$293 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,071 | $10,778 | +$293 |
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 | Rosewood | 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 Rosewood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beechwood and Rosewood differ by $293 a year by car, but $200 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 $93, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Beechwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $293 per year, $11,071 from Beechwood versus $10,778 from Rosewood.
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 Rosewood by $93 a year, $5,558 against $5,651.
- Building insurance favours Rosewood by $200 a year, $2,550 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 medium in Rosewood, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Rosewood against medium in Beechwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Beechwood cumulative | Rosewood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,071 | $10,778 | $293 |
| Year 3 | $34,219 | $33,314 | $905 |
| Year 5 | $58,777 | $57,222 | $1,555 |
| Year 10 | $126,917 | $123,558 | $3,359 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beechwood or Rosewood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Beechwood runs $11,071 a year by car and Rosewood $10,778, but most of the $293 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $93. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Beechwood and Rosewood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Beechwood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Rosewood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Beechwood and $1,300 in Rosewood. 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 Rosewood?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,651 from Beechwood and $5,558 from Rosewood 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 Rosewood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beechwood costs a cumulative $126,917 and Rosewood costs $123,558 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,359 in favour of Rosewood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beechwood and Rosewood 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.