Bolton Point vs Marmong Point: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bolton Point and Marmong Point are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.6 km and 16.3 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bolton Point runs $788 a year cheaper than Marmong Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,034.
Over 10 years, Bolton Point costs about $9,000 less to run than Marmong Point — the same as paying $9,000 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bolton Point
Marmong Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bolton Point | Marmong Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,797 | $4,535 | +$262 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $3,500 | -$1,050 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,387 | $11,175 | -$788 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,990 | $9,040 | -$1,050 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bolton Point | Marmong Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 — Bolton Point vs Marmong Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bolton Point costs $788 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,034 in favour of Bolton Point.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,050 per year. Marmong Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,050 per year, $7,990 from Bolton Point versus $9,040 from Marmong Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Marmong Point by $262 a year, $4,535 against $4,797.
- Building insurance favours Bolton Point by $1,050 a year, $2,450 against $3,500.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Marmong Point against medium in Bolton Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Marmong Point against medium in Bolton Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.3 in Marmong Point against 3.2 in Bolton Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bolton Point cumulative | Marmong Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,387 | $11,175 | $788 |
| Year 3 | $32,105 | $34,541 | $2,436 |
| Year 5 | $55,146 | $59,330 | $4,184 |
| Year 10 | $119,075 | $128,109 | $9,034 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bolton Point or Marmong Point cheaper to live in?
Bolton Point is cheaper to run by car at $10,387 per year versus $11,175 for Marmong Point, a difference of $788 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bolton Point and Marmong Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Bolton Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Marmong Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Bolton Point and $1,377 in Marmong Point. 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 Bolton Point and Marmong Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,797 from Bolton Point and $4,535 from Marmong Point to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bolton Point and $2,400 from Marmong Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bolton Point and Marmong Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bolton Point costs a cumulative $119,075 and Marmong Point costs $128,109 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,034 in favour of Bolton Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bolton Point and Marmong Point 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.