Booragul vs Speers 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
Booragul and Speers Point are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.9 km and 15.2 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Speers Point runs $306 a year cheaper than Booragul, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,508.
Over 10 years, Speers Point costs about $3,500 less to run than Booragul. That's about $7 a week.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Booragul
Speers Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Booragul | Speers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,658 | $4,302 | +$356 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $1,850 | -$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,598 | $9,292 | +$306 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,340 | $7,390 | -$50 |
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 | Booragul | Speers 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, Booragul vs Speers Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Speers Point costs $306 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,508 in favour of Speers Point.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $356 per year. Booragul is 16.9 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,340 and $7,390 a year, so the $306 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Speers Point by $356 a year, $4,302 against $4,658.
- Building insurance favours Booragul by $50 a year, $1,800 against $1,850.
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.
The catchment state school scores 6 in Speers Point against 4.3 in Booragul, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Booragul cumulative | Speers Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,598 | $9,292 | $306 |
| Year 3 | $29,666 | $28,721 | $945 |
| Year 5 | $50,957 | $49,332 | $1,625 |
| Year 10 | $110,030 | $106,522 | $3,508 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Booragul or Speers Point cheaper to live in?
Speers Point is cheaper to run by car at $9,292 per year versus $9,598 for Booragul, a difference of $306 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Booragul and Speers Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Booragul (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Speers Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Booragul and $1,377 in Speers 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 Booragul and Speers Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,658 from Booragul and $4,302 from Speers Point to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Booragul and $2,400 from Speers Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Booragul and Speers Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Booragul costs a cumulative $110,030 and Speers Point costs $106,522 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,508 in favour of Speers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Booragul and Speers Point suits you better?
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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.