Broadbeach Waters vs Bundall, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Broadbeach Waters and Bundall are both City of Gold Coast suburbs, sitting 6.4 km and 4.4 km from Gold Coast CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bundall runs $1,405 a year cheaper than Broadbeach Waters, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $16,107.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $16,100, about $31 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Bundall
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Broadbeach Waters | Bundall | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,359 | $1,359 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,169 | $2,169 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,058 | $1,453 | +$605 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,350 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $4,500 | $3,400 | +$1,100 |
| Total (driving) | $7,736 | $6,331 | +$1,405 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,870 | $5,070 | +$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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Broadbeach Waters | Bundall | 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, Broadbeach Waters vs Bundall (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Broadbeach Waters and Bundall differ by $1,405 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 $605, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Broadbeach Waters carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $5,870 from Broadbeach Waters versus $5,070 from Bundall.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,359 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,169 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bundall by $605 a year, $1,453 against $2,058.
- Building insurance favours Bundall by $800 a year, $1,350 against $2,150.
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 high in Broadbeach Waters against low in Bundall, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.2 in Bundall against 6.9 in Broadbeach Waters, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Broadbeach Waters cumulative | Bundall cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,736 | $6,331 | $1,405 |
| Year 3 | $23,911 | $19,568 | $4,343 |
| Year 5 | $41,071 | $33,612 | $7,459 |
| Year 10 | $88,685 | $72,578 | $16,107 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Broadbeach Waters or Bundall cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Broadbeach Waters runs $7,736 a year by car and Bundall $6,331, but most of the $1,405 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $605. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Broadbeach Waters and Bundall?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,359 in Broadbeach Waters (City of Gold Coast) and $1,359 in Bundall (City of Gold Coast). Water and sewerage adds $2,169 in Broadbeach Waters and $2,169 in Bundall. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Broadbeach Waters and Bundall?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,058 from Broadbeach Waters and $1,453 from Bundall to Gold Coast CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Broadbeach Waters and $192 from Bundall.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Broadbeach Waters and Bundall?
At 3% annual cost growth, Broadbeach Waters costs a cumulative $88,685 and Bundall costs $72,578 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $16,107 in favour of Bundall. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Broadbeach Waters and Bundall suits you better?
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Sources: City of Gold Coast and City of Gold Coast 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.