Borambil vs Quirindi, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Borambil and Quirindi are both Liverpool Plains rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Borambil runs $800 a year cheaper than Quirindi, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,171.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,200, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Quirindi
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Borambil | Quirindi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $967 | $967 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,350 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,017 | $22,817 | -$800 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,017 | $22,817 | -$800 |
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 | Borambil | Quirindi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, Borambil vs Quirindi (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Borambil and Quirindi differ by $800 a year by car, but $800 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Quirindi carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $22,017 from Borambil versus $22,817 from Quirindi.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $967 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Borambil by $800 a year, $1,550 against $2,350.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Quirindi against low in Borambil, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Borambil cumulative | Quirindi cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,017 | $22,817 | $800 |
| Year 3 | $68,052 | $70,525 | $2,473 |
| Year 5 | $116,891 | $121,139 | $4,248 |
| Year 10 | $252,400 | $261,571 | $9,171 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Borambil or Quirindi cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Borambil runs $22,017 a year by car and Quirindi $22,817, but most of the $800 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Borambil and Quirindi?
Annual council rates for a house are $967 in Borambil (Liverpool Plains rates (OLG) and $967 in Quirindi (Liverpool Plains rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Borambil and $1,300 in Quirindi. 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 Borambil and Quirindi?
Borambil carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Quirindi carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Borambil and Quirindi?
At 3% annual cost growth, Borambil costs a cumulative $252,400 and Quirindi costs $261,571 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,171 in favour of Borambil. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Borambil and Quirindi suits you better?
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Sources: Liverpool Plains rates (OLG and Liverpool Plains 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.