Bobs Creek vs West Haven, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bobs Creek and West Haven are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24 km and 25 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $215 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 $2,500, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Bobs Creek
West Haven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bobs Creek | West Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,871 | $6,006 | -$135 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,871 | $6,006 | -$135 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,100 | $2,750 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,641 | $11,426 | +$215 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,641 | $11,426 | +$215 |
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 | Bobs Creek | West Haven | 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, Bobs Creek vs West Haven (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bobs Creek and West Haven differ by $215 a year by car, but $350 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 $135, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Bobs Creek carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $215 per year, $11,641 from Bobs Creek versus $11,426 from West Haven.
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 Bobs Creek by $135 a year, $5,871 against $6,006.
- Building insurance favours West Haven by $350 a year, $2,750 against $3,100.
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 Bobs Creek against medium in West Haven, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.8 in West Haven against 4 in Bobs Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bobs Creek cumulative | West Haven cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,641 | $11,426 | $215 |
| Year 3 | $35,981 | $35,317 | $664 |
| Year 5 | $61,804 | $60,662 | $1,142 |
| Year 10 | $133,451 | $130,986 | $2,465 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bobs Creek or West Haven cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bobs Creek runs $11,641 a year by car and West Haven $11,426, but most of the $215 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $135. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bobs Creek and West Haven?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Bobs Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in West Haven (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bobs Creek and $1,300 in West Haven. 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 Bobs Creek and West Haven?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,871 from Bobs Creek and $6,006 from West Haven 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 Bobs Creek and West Haven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bobs Creek costs a cumulative $133,451 and West Haven costs $130,986 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,465 in favour of West Haven. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bobs Creek and West Haven suits you better?
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: 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.