Blackalls Park vs Fassifern, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blackalls Park and Fassifern are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.9 km and 19.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $203 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 $2,300, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Fassifern
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackalls Park | Fassifern | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,224 | $5,171 | +$53 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,850 | +$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,364 | $10,161 | +$203 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,540 | $7,390 | +$150 |
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 | Blackalls Park | Fassifern | 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, Blackalls Park vs Fassifern (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackalls Park and Fassifern differ by $203 a year by car, but $150 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 $53, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year. Blackalls Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,540 and $7,390 a year, so the $203 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 Fassifern by $53 a year, $5,171 against $5,224.
- Building insurance favours Fassifern by $150 a year, $1,850 against $2,000.
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 Blackalls Park against medium in Fassifern, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Fassifern against medium in Blackalls Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackalls Park cumulative | Fassifern cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,364 | $10,161 | $203 |
| Year 3 | $32,034 | $31,407 | $627 |
| Year 5 | $55,024 | $53,946 | $1,078 |
| Year 10 | $118,812 | $116,484 | $2,328 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackalls Park or Fassifern cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Blackalls Park runs $10,364 a year by car and Fassifern $10,161, but most of the $203 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $53. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackalls Park and Fassifern?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Blackalls Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Fassifern (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Blackalls Park and $1,377 in Fassifern. 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 Blackalls Park and Fassifern?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,224 from Blackalls Park and $5,171 from Fassifern to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blackalls Park and $2,400 from Fassifern.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackalls Park and Fassifern?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackalls Park costs a cumulative $118,812 and Fassifern costs $116,484 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,328 in favour of Fassifern. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackalls Park and Fassifern 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.