Booval vs North Booval, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Booval and North Booval are both Ipswich City Council suburbs, sitting 28 km and 27.2 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Booval runs $513 a year cheaper than North Booval, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,881.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,900, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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 → Neither quite right? Find the Brisbane suburbs that fit your budget →Booval
North Booval
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Booval | North Booval | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,298 | $1,298 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,360 | $6,273 | +$87 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $2,000 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,200 | +$400 |
| Total (driving) | $10,958 | $11,471 | -$513 |
| Total (public transport) | $4,790 | $5,390 | -$600 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Booval | North Booval | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Booval vs North Booval (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Booval and North Booval differ by $513 a year by car, but $600 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 $87, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $4,790 from Booval versus $5,390 from North Booval.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,298 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Booval by $87 a year, $6,273 against $6,360.
- Building insurance favours Booval by $600 a year, $1,400 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 high in North Booval against low in Booval, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.4 in Booval against 3 in North Booval, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Booval cumulative | North Booval cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,958 | $11,471 | $513 |
| Year 3 | $33,870 | $35,456 | $1,586 |
| Year 5 | $58,178 | $60,901 | $2,723 |
| Year 10 | $125,621 | $131,502 | $5,881 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Booval or North Booval cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Booval runs $10,958 a year by car and North Booval $11,471, but most of the $513 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $87. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Booval and North Booval?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,298 in Booval (Ipswich City Council) and $1,298 in North Booval (Ipswich City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Booval and $1,900 in North Booval. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Booval and North Booval?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,360 from Booval and $6,273 from North Booval to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Booval and $192 from North Booval.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Booval and North Booval?
At 3% annual cost growth, Booval costs a cumulative $125,621 and North Booval costs $131,502 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,881 in favour of Booval. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Booval and North Booval 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: Ipswich City Council and Ipswich City Council 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.