Blackmans Point vs The Hatch, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blackmans Point and The Hatch are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 8.1 km and 10 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Blackmans Point runs $514 a year cheaper than The Hatch, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,893.
Over 10 years, Blackmans Point costs about $5,900 less to run than The Hatch. That's about $11 a week.
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The Hatch
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackmans Point | The Hatch | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,544 | $3,058 | -$514 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,544 | $3,058 | -$514 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $2,750 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,964 | $8,478 | -$514 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,964 | $8,478 | -$514 |
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 | Blackmans Point | The Hatch | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Blackmans Point vs The Hatch (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackmans Point costs $514 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,893 in favour of Blackmans Point.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $514 per year. The Hatch is 10 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $514 per year, $7,964 from Blackmans Point versus $8,478 from The Hatch.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Blackmans Point by $514 a year, $2,544 against $3,058.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,750 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 5.2 in The Hatch against 3.2 in Blackmans Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackmans Point cumulative | The Hatch cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,964 | $8,478 | $514 |
| Year 3 | $24,616 | $26,205 | $1,589 |
| Year 5 | $42,282 | $45,011 | $2,729 |
| Year 10 | $91,298 | $97,191 | $5,893 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackmans Point or The Hatch cheaper to live in?
Blackmans Point is cheaper to run by car at $7,964 per year versus $8,478 for The Hatch, a difference of $514 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackmans Point and The Hatch?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Blackmans Point (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in The Hatch (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Blackmans Point and $1,300 in The Hatch. 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 Blackmans Point and The Hatch?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,544 from Blackmans Point and $3,058 from The Hatch to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackmans Point and The Hatch?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackmans Point costs a cumulative $91,298 and The Hatch costs $97,191 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,893 in favour of Blackmans Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackmans Point and The Hatch suits you better?
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Sources: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings 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.