Booragul vs Woodrising, 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 Woodrising are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.9 km and 17.4 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Booragul runs $300 a year cheaper than Woodrising, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Woodrising
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Booragul | Woodrising | 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 | $4,758 | -$100 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,000 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,598 | $9,898 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,340 | $7,540 | -$200 |
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 | Woodrising | 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 Woodrising (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Booragul and Woodrising differ by $300 a year by car, but $200 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $100, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Woodrising carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,340 from Booragul versus $7,540 from Woodrising.
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 Booragul by $100 a year, $4,658 against $4,758.
- Building insurance favours Booragul by $200 a year, $1,800 against $2,000.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Woodrising against low in Booragul, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Booragul cumulative | Woodrising cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,598 | $9,898 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $29,666 | $30,594 | $928 |
| Year 5 | $50,957 | $52,550 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $110,030 | $113,469 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Booragul or Woodrising cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Booragul runs $9,598 a year by car and Woodrising $9,898, but most of the $300 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $100. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Booragul and Woodrising?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Booragul (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Woodrising (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Booragul and $1,377 in Woodrising. 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 Woodrising?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,658 from Booragul and $4,758 from Woodrising to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Booragul and $2,400 from Woodrising.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Booragul and Woodrising?
At 3% annual cost growth, Booragul costs a cumulative $110,030 and Woodrising costs $113,469 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Booragul. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Booragul and Woodrising suits you better?
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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.