Brisbane Grove vs Goulburn, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brisbane Grove and Goulburn are both Goulburn Mulwaree rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Brisbane Grove runs $600 a year cheaper than Goulburn, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,878.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Goulburn
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brisbane Grove | Goulburn | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,433 | $1,433 | - |
| 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 | $2,250 | $2,850 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,183 | $23,783 | -$600 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,183 | $23,783 | -$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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Brisbane Grove | Goulburn | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Brisbane Grove vs Goulburn (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brisbane Grove and Goulburn differ by $600 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Goulburn carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $23,183 from Brisbane Grove versus $23,783 from Goulburn.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,433 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Brisbane Grove by $600 a year, $2,250 against $2,850.
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 Goulburn against medium in Brisbane Grove, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Brisbane Grove against 3.4 in Goulburn, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brisbane Grove cumulative | Goulburn cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,183 | $23,783 | $600 |
| Year 3 | $71,656 | $73,511 | $1,855 |
| Year 5 | $123,082 | $126,267 | $3,185 |
| Year 10 | $265,767 | $272,645 | $6,878 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brisbane Grove or Goulburn cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Brisbane Grove runs $23,183 a year by car and Goulburn $23,783, but most of the $600 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 Brisbane Grove and Goulburn?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,433 in Brisbane Grove (Goulburn Mulwaree rates (OLG) and $1,433 in Goulburn (Goulburn Mulwaree rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Brisbane Grove and $1,300 in Goulburn. 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 Brisbane Grove and Goulburn?
Brisbane Grove 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. Goulburn 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 Brisbane Grove and Goulburn?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brisbane Grove costs a cumulative $265,767 and Goulburn costs $272,645 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,878 in favour of Brisbane Grove. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brisbane Grove and Goulburn suits you better?
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Sources: Goulburn Mulwaree rates (OLG and Goulburn Mulwaree 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.