Bellingen vs Hydes 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
Bellingen and Hydes Creek are both Bellingen rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28 km and 24 km from Coffs Harbour CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Hydes Creek runs $539 a year cheaper than Bellingen, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,179.
Over 10 years, Hydes Creek costs about $6,200 less to run than Bellingen. That's about $12 a week.
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 →Bellingen
Hydes Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bellingen | Hydes Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,652 | $1,652 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,360 | $5,871 | +$489 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,360 | $5,871 | +$489 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $2,150 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,512 | $10,973 | +$539 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,512 | $10,973 | +$539 |
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 | Bellingen | Hydes Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Bellingen vs Hydes Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hydes Creek costs $539 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,179 in favour of Hydes Creek.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $489 per year. Bellingen is 28 km from Coffs Harbour CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $539 per year, $11,512 from Bellingen versus $10,973 from Hydes Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,652 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Hydes Creek by $489 a year, $5,871 against $6,360.
- Building insurance favours Hydes Creek by $50 a year, $2,150 against $2,200.
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 medium in Bellingen against low in Hydes Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Hydes Creek against medium in Bellingen, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bellingen cumulative | Hydes Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,512 | $10,973 | $539 |
| Year 3 | $35,582 | $33,916 | $1,666 |
| Year 5 | $61,119 | $58,257 | $2,862 |
| Year 10 | $131,972 | $125,793 | $6,179 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bellingen or Hydes Creek cheaper to live in?
Hydes Creek is cheaper to run by car at $10,973 per year versus $11,512 for Bellingen, a difference of $539 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bellingen and Hydes Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,652 in Bellingen (Bellingen rates (OLG) and $1,652 in Hydes Creek (Bellingen rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bellingen and $1,300 in Hydes 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 Bellingen and Hydes Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,360 from Bellingen and $5,871 from Hydes Creek to Coffs Harbour 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 Bellingen and Hydes Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bellingen costs a cumulative $131,972 and Hydes Creek costs $125,793 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,179 in favour of Hydes Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bellingen and Hydes Creek suits you better?
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: Bellingen rates (OLG and Bellingen 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.