Bray Park vs Lawnton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bray Park and Lawnton are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 20.5 km and 21.3 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bray Park runs $1,483 a year cheaper than Lawnton, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $17,001.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $17,000, about $33 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lawnton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bray Park | Lawnton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,328 | $5,461 | -$133 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,900 | -$1,350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,400 | -$100 |
| Total (driving) | $10,331 | $11,814 | -$1,483 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,195 | $6,545 | -$1,350 |
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 | Bray Park | Lawnton | 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, Bray Park vs Lawnton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bray Park and Lawnton differ by $1,483 a year by car, but $1,350 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 $133, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,350 per year. Lawnton carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,350 per year, $5,195 from Bray Park versus $6,545 from Lawnton.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bray Park by $133 a year, $5,328 against $5,461.
- Building insurance favours Bray Park by $1,350 a year, $1,550 against $2,900.
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 medium in Lawnton against low in Bray Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Lawnton against medium in Bray Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bray Park cumulative | Lawnton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,331 | $11,814 | $1,483 |
| Year 3 | $31,932 | $36,516 | $4,584 |
| Year 5 | $54,849 | $62,722 | $7,873 |
| Year 10 | $118,433 | $135,434 | $17,001 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bray Park or Lawnton cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bray Park runs $10,331 a year by car and Lawnton $11,814, but most of the $1,483 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $133. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bray Park and Lawnton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Bray Park (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Lawnton (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Bray Park and $2,144 in Lawnton. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Bray Park and Lawnton?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,328 from Bray Park and $5,461 from Lawnton to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Bray Park and $192 from Lawnton.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bray Park and Lawnton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bray Park costs a cumulative $118,433 and Lawnton costs $135,434 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $17,001 in favour of Bray Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bray Park and Lawnton suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Regional 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.