Belmont South vs Marks Point: 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 South and Marks Point are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 99.9 km and 99.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Marks Point runs $335 a year cheaper than Belmont South, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,840.
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 →Belmont South
Marks Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Belmont South | Marks Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,364 | $4,329 | +$35 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,604 | $10,269 | +$335 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,640 | $8,340 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Belmont South | Marks Point | 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 South vs Marks Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Marks Point costs $335 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,840 in favour of Marks Point.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Belmont South carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,640 from Belmont South versus $8,340 from Marks Point.
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 Marks Point by $35 a year, $4,329 against $4,364.
- Building insurance favours Marks Point by $300 a year, $2,800 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Belmont South against low in Marks Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Belmont South cumulative | Marks Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,604 | $10,269 | $335 |
| Year 3 | $32,776 | $31,740 | $1,036 |
| Year 5 | $56,298 | $54,520 | $1,778 |
| Year 10 | $121,563 | $117,723 | $3,840 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belmont South or Marks Point cheaper to live in?
Marks Point is cheaper to run by car at $10,269 per year versus $10,604 for Belmont South, a difference of $335 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Belmont South and Marks Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Belmont South (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Marks Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Belmont South and $1,377 in Marks Point. 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 South and Marks Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,364 from Belmont South and $4,329 from Marks Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Belmont South and $2,400 from Marks Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Belmont South and Marks Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Belmont South costs a cumulative $121,563 and Marks Point costs $117,723 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,840 in favour of Marks Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Belmont South and Marks Point 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.