Bonny Hills vs Jolly Nose: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bonny Hills and Jolly Nose are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.5 km and 22.5 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bonny Hills runs $1,148 a year cheaper than Jolly Nose, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $13,161.
Over 10 years, Bonny Hills costs about $13,200 less to run than Jolly Nose — the same as paying $13,200 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Jolly Nose
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonny Hills | Jolly Nose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,153 | $5,651 | -$498 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $3,500 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,673 | $11,821 | -$1,148 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,920 | $8,570 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bonny Hills | Jolly Nose | 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 — Bonny Hills vs Jolly Nose (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonny Hills costs $1,148 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $13,161 in favour of Bonny Hills.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Jolly Nose carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,920 from Bonny Hills versus $8,570 from Jolly Nose.
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 Bonny Hills by $498 a year, $5,153 against $5,651.
- Building insurance favours Bonny Hills by $650 a year, $2,850 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 Jolly Nose against medium in Bonny Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonny Hills cumulative | Jolly Nose cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,673 | $11,821 | $1,148 |
| Year 3 | $32,989 | $36,538 | $3,549 |
| Year 5 | $56,664 | $62,759 | $6,095 |
| Year 10 | $122,354 | $135,515 | $13,161 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonny Hills or Jolly Nose cheaper to live in?
Bonny Hills is cheaper to run by car at $10,673 per year versus $11,821 for Jolly Nose, a difference of $1,148 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonny Hills and Jolly Nose?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Bonny Hills (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Jolly Nose (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bonny Hills and $1,300 in Jolly Nose. 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 Bonny Hills and Jolly Nose?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,153 from Bonny Hills and $5,651 from Jolly Nose to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonny Hills and $2,400 from Jolly Nose.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonny Hills and Jolly Nose?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonny Hills costs a cumulative $122,354 and Jolly Nose costs $135,515 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $13,161 in favour of Bonny Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonny Hills and Jolly Nose 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.