Bonny Hills vs North 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
Bonny Hills and North Haven are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.5 km and 24.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bonny Hills runs $1,409 a year cheaper than North Haven, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $16,153.
Over 10 years, Bonny Hills costs about $16,200 less to run than North Haven — the same as paying $16,200 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 →Bonny Hills
North Haven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonny Hills | North Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,153 | $5,912 | -$759 |
| 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 | $12,082 | -$1,409 |
| 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 | North 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 — Bonny Hills vs North Haven (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonny Hills costs $1,409 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $16,153 in favour of Bonny Hills.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $759 per year. North Haven is 24.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,920 from Bonny Hills versus $8,570 from North 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 Bonny Hills by $759 a year, $5,153 against $5,912.
- 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 North Haven against medium in Bonny Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonny Hills cumulative | North Haven cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,673 | $12,082 | $1,409 |
| Year 3 | $32,989 | $37,344 | $4,355 |
| Year 5 | $56,664 | $64,145 | $7,481 |
| Year 10 | $122,354 | $138,507 | $16,153 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonny Hills or North Haven cheaper to live in?
Bonny Hills is cheaper to run by car at $10,673 per year versus $12,082 for North Haven, a difference of $1,409 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 North Haven?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Bonny Hills (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in North Haven (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bonny Hills and $1,300 in North 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 Bonny Hills and North Haven?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,153 from Bonny Hills and $5,912 from North Haven to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonny Hills and $2,400 from North Haven.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonny Hills and North Haven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonny Hills costs a cumulative $122,354 and North Haven costs $138,507 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $16,153 in favour of Bonny Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonny Hills and North Haven 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.