Blackbutt vs Flinders, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blackbutt and Flinders are both Shellharbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 85.1 km and 85.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $121 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 $1,400, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Flinders
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackbutt | Flinders | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,718 | $3,739 | -$21 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,600 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,631 | $8,752 | -$121 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,313 | $7,413 | -$100 |
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 | Blackbutt | Flinders | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Blackbutt vs Flinders (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackbutt and Flinders differ by $121 a year by car, but $100 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 $21, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Flinders carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,313 and $7,413 a year, so the $121 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,865 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Blackbutt by $21 a year, $3,718 against $3,739.
- Building insurance favours Blackbutt by $100 a year, $1,500 against $1,600.
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 medium in Flinders against low in Blackbutt, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Blackbutt against low in Flinders, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.1 in Flinders against 2.8 in Blackbutt, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackbutt cumulative | Flinders cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,631 | $8,752 | $121 |
| Year 3 | $26,678 | $27,052 | $374 |
| Year 5 | $45,823 | $46,466 | $643 |
| Year 10 | $98,945 | $100,332 | $1,387 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackbutt or Flinders cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Blackbutt runs $8,631 a year by car and Flinders $8,752, but most of the $121 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $21. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackbutt and Flinders?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Blackbutt (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Flinders (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Blackbutt and $1,548 in Flinders. 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 Blackbutt and Flinders?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,718 from Blackbutt and $3,739 from Flinders to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blackbutt and $2,400 from Flinders.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackbutt and Flinders?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackbutt costs a cumulative $98,945 and Flinders costs $100,332 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,387 in favour of Blackbutt. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackbutt and Flinders suits you better?
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Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.