Blackalls Park vs Toronto, 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 Toronto are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.9 km and 19.9 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $0 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.
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Toronto
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackalls Park | Toronto | 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 | $5,224 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $2,000 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,364 | $10,364 | - |
| Total (public transport) | $7,540 | $7,540 | - |
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 | Toronto | 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 Toronto (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackalls Park and Toronto cost within $0 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $0, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $0 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,540 and $7,540 a year, so the $0 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 is identical at $5,224 a year.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,000 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. On these four costs they are identical.
The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Blackalls Park against 3.8 in Toronto, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackalls Park cumulative | Toronto cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,364 | $10,364 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $32,034 | $32,034 | $0 |
| Year 5 | $55,024 | $55,024 | $0 |
| Year 10 | $118,812 | $118,812 | $0 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackalls Park or Toronto cheaper to live in?
Blackalls Park is cheaper to run by car at $10,364 per year versus $10,364 for Toronto, a difference of $0 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackalls Park and Toronto?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Blackalls Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Toronto (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Blackalls Park and $1,377 in Toronto. 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 Toronto?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,224 from Blackalls Park and $5,224 from Toronto to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blackalls Park and $2,400 from Toronto.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackalls Park and Toronto?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackalls Park costs a cumulative $118,812 and Toronto costs $118,812 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $0 in favour of Blackalls Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackalls Park and Toronto 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.