Brimbin vs Cundletown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brimbin and Cundletown are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $250 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,900, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cundletown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brimbin | Cundletown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| 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 | $2,550 | $2,800 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,659 | $23,909 | -$250 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,659 | $23,909 | -$250 |
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 | Brimbin | Cundletown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Brimbin vs Cundletown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brimbin and Cundletown differ by $250 a year by car, but $250 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 $250 per year. Cundletown carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $23,659 from Brimbin versus $23,909 from Cundletown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Brimbin by $250 a year, $2,550 against $2,800.
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 Cundletown against medium in Brimbin, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Brimbin against medium in Cundletown, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.1 in Cundletown against 1 in Brimbin, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brimbin cumulative | Cundletown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,659 | $23,909 | $250 |
| Year 3 | $73,128 | $73,900 | $772 |
| Year 5 | $125,609 | $126,936 | $1,327 |
| Year 10 | $271,224 | $274,090 | $2,866 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brimbin or Cundletown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Brimbin runs $23,659 a year by car and Cundletown $23,909, but most of the $250 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 Brimbin and Cundletown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Brimbin (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Cundletown (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Brimbin and $1,300 in Cundletown. 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 Brimbin and Cundletown?
Brimbin 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. Cundletown 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 Brimbin and Cundletown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brimbin costs a cumulative $271,224 and Cundletown costs $274,090 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,866 in favour of Brimbin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brimbin and Cundletown suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.