Blacksmiths vs Little Pelican: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blacksmiths and Little Pelican are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 97.3 km and 96.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Little Pelican runs $334 a year cheaper than Blacksmiths, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,829.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Blacksmiths
Little Pelican
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blacksmiths | Little Pelican | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,110 | $4,076 | +$34 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,350 | $10,016 | +$334 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,640 | $8,340 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Blacksmiths | Little Pelican | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Blacksmiths vs Little Pelican (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Little Pelican costs $334 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,829 in favour of Little Pelican.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Blacksmiths carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,640 from Blacksmiths versus $8,340 from Little Pelican.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blacksmiths cumulative | Little Pelican cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,350 | $10,016 | $334 |
| Year 3 | $31,991 | $30,958 | $1,033 |
| Year 5 | $54,950 | $53,176 | $1,774 |
| Year 10 | $118,651 | $114,822 | $3,829 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blacksmiths or Little Pelican cheaper to live in?
Little Pelican is cheaper to run by car at $10,016 per year versus $10,350 for Blacksmiths, a difference of $334 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blacksmiths and Little Pelican?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Blacksmiths (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Little Pelican (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Blacksmiths and $1,377 in Little 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 Blacksmiths and Little Pelican?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,110 from Blacksmiths and $4,076 from Little Pelican to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blacksmiths and $2,400 from Little Pelican.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blacksmiths and Little Pelican?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blacksmiths costs a cumulative $118,651 and Little Pelican costs $114,822 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,829 in favour of Little Pelican. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blacksmiths and Little Pelican is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.