Blackstone vs Booval, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blackstone and Booval are both Ipswich City Council suburbs, sitting 28.2 km and 28 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Booval runs $870 a year cheaper than Blackstone, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,974.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,000, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Booval
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackstone | Booval | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,298 | $1,298 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,380 | $6,360 | +$20 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,400 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $2,600 | -$600 |
| Total (driving) | $11,828 | $10,958 | +$870 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,640 | $4,790 | +$850 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Blackstone | Booval | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Blackstone vs Booval (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blackstone and Booval differ by $870 a year by car, but $850 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 $20, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $5,640 from Blackstone versus $4,790 from Booval.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,298 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Booval by $20 a year, $6,360 against $6,380.
- Building insurance favours Booval by $850 a year, $1,400 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Blackstone against low in Booval, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.4 in Booval against 3.4 in Blackstone, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackstone cumulative | Booval cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,828 | $10,958 | $870 |
| Year 3 | $36,559 | $33,870 | $2,689 |
| Year 5 | $62,796 | $58,178 | $4,618 |
| Year 10 | $135,595 | $125,621 | $9,974 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackstone or Booval cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Blackstone runs $11,828 a year by car and Booval $10,958, but most of the $870 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $20. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackstone and Booval?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,298 in Blackstone (Ipswich City Council) and $1,298 in Booval (Ipswich City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Blackstone and $1,900 in Booval. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Blackstone and Booval?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,380 from Blackstone and $6,360 from Booval to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Blackstone and $192 from Booval.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackstone and Booval?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackstone costs a cumulative $135,595 and Booval costs $125,621 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,974 in favour of Booval. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackstone and Booval suits you better?
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Sources: Ipswich City Council and Ipswich City Council 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.