Belmont North vs Jewells, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Belmont North and Jewells are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.4 km and 12.8 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $81 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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 →Belmont North
Jewells
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Belmont North | Jewells | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,126 | $3,757 | +$369 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $1,850 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,666 | $8,747 | -$81 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,940 | $7,390 | -$450 |
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 | Belmont North | Jewells | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Belmont North vs Jewells (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Belmont North and Jewells cost within $81 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $929, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Jewells carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,940 from Belmont North versus $7,390 from Jewells.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Jewells by $369 a year, $3,757 against $4,126.
- Building insurance favours Belmont North by $450 a year, $1,400 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Jewells against low in Belmont North, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Jewells against 4.7 in Belmont North, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Belmont North cumulative | Jewells cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,666 | $8,747 | $81 |
| Year 3 | $26,786 | $27,036 | $250 |
| Year 5 | $46,009 | $46,439 | $430 |
| Year 10 | $99,346 | $100,275 | $929 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belmont North or Jewells cheaper to live in?
Belmont North is cheaper to run by car at $8,666 per year versus $8,747 for Jewells, a difference of $81 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Belmont North and Jewells?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Belmont North (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Jewells (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Belmont North and $1,377 in Jewells. 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 Belmont North and Jewells?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,126 from Belmont North and $3,757 from Jewells to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Belmont North and $2,400 from Jewells.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Belmont North and Jewells?
At 3% annual cost growth, Belmont North costs a cumulative $99,346 and Jewells costs $100,275 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $929 in favour of Belmont North. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Belmont North and Jewells suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.