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 $1,309 a year cheaper than North Haven, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $15,006.
Over 10 years, Bonny Hills costs about $15,000 less to run than North Haven. That's about $29 a week.
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North Haven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonny Hills | North Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,153 | $5,912 | -$759 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,153 | $5,912 | -$759 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,550 | $3,100 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,373 | $11,682 | -$1,309 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,373 | $11,682 | -$1,309 |
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 | 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 $1,309 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $15,006 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 $1,309 per year, $10,373 from Bonny Hills versus $11,682 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 $550 a year, $2,550 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.
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 | $10,373 | $11,682 | $1,309 |
| Year 3 | $32,062 | $36,108 | $4,046 |
| Year 5 | $55,072 | $62,021 | $6,949 |
| Year 10 | $118,915 | $133,921 | $15,006 |
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 $10,373 per year versus $11,682 for North Haven, a difference of $1,309 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). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonny Hills and North Haven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonny Hills costs a cumulative $118,915 and North Haven costs $133,921 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $15,006 in favour of Bonny Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonny Hills and North Haven suits you better?
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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.