Belmont South vs Pelican, 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 Pelican are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 99.9 km and 97.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $106 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, Pelican costs about $1,200 less to run than Belmont South. That's about $2 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 →Belmont South
Pelican
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Belmont South | Pelican | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,364 | $4,258 | +$106 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $2,050 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,554 | $9,448 | +$106 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,590 | $7,590 | - |
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 South | Pelican | 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 Pelican (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Belmont South and Pelican cost within $106 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $1,215, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $106 per year. Belmont South is 99.9 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,590 and $7,590 a year, so the $106 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Pelican by $106 a year, $4,258 against $4,364.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,050 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Pelican against 4.4 in Belmont South, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Belmont South cumulative | Pelican cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,554 | $9,448 | $106 |
| Year 3 | $29,530 | $29,203 | $327 |
| Year 5 | $50,723 | $50,161 | $562 |
| Year 10 | $109,526 | $108,311 | $1,215 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belmont South or Pelican cheaper to live in?
Pelican is cheaper to run by car at $9,448 per year versus $9,554 for Belmont South, a difference of $106 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 Pelican?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Belmont South (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Pelican (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Belmont South and $1,377 in Pelican. 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 Pelican?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,364 from Belmont South and $4,258 from Pelican to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Belmont South and $2,400 from Pelican.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Belmont South and Pelican?
At 3% annual cost growth, Belmont South costs a cumulative $109,526 and Pelican costs $108,311 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,215 in favour of Pelican. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Belmont South and Pelican 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.