Bohnock vs Cabbage Tree Island, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bohnock runs $300 a year cheaper than Cabbage Tree Island, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cabbage Tree Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bohnock | Cabbage Tree Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $2,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,609 | $23,909 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,609 | $23,909 | -$300 |
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 | Bohnock | Cabbage Tree Island | 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, Bohnock vs Cabbage Tree Island (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island differ by $300 a year by car, but $300 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Cabbage Tree Island carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $23,609 from Bohnock versus $23,909 from Cabbage Tree Island.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Bohnock by $300 a year, $2,500 against $2,800.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated medium in Cabbage Tree Island against low in Bohnock, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bohnock cumulative | Cabbage Tree Island cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,609 | $23,909 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $72,973 | $73,900 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $125,343 | $126,936 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $270,651 | $274,090 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bohnock or Cabbage Tree Island cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bohnock runs $23,609 a year by car and Cabbage Tree Island $23,909, but most of the $300 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Bohnock (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Cabbage Tree Island (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bohnock and $1,300 in Cabbage Tree Island. 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 Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island?
Bohnock carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Cabbage Tree Island carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bohnock costs a cumulative $270,651 and Cabbage Tree Island costs $274,090 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Bohnock. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bohnock and Cabbage Tree Island suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.