Broken Dam vs Providence Portal: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Broken Dam and Providence Portal are both Snowy Monaro Regional rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Providence Portal runs $400 a year cheaper than Broken Dam, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Broken Dam
Providence Portal
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Broken Dam | Providence Portal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,306 | $1,306 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,206 | $22,806 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,406 | $7,006 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Broken Dam | Providence Portal | 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 — Broken Dam vs Providence Portal (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Providence Portal costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Providence Portal.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,406 from Broken Dam versus $7,006 from Providence Portal.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,306 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Providence Portal by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Broken Dam against medium in Providence Portal, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Broken Dam cumulative | Providence Portal cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,206 | $22,806 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $71,727 | $70,491 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $123,204 | $121,080 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $266,031 | $261,445 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Broken Dam or Providence Portal cheaper to live in?
Providence Portal is cheaper to run by car at $22,806 per year versus $23,206 for Broken Dam, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Broken Dam and Providence Portal?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,306 in Broken Dam (Snowy Monaro Regional rates (OLG) and $1,306 in Providence Portal (Snowy Monaro Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Broken Dam and $1,300 in Providence Portal. 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 Broken Dam and Providence Portal?
Broken Dam 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. Providence Portal 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Broken Dam and $2,400 from Providence Portal.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Broken Dam and Providence Portal?
At 3% annual cost growth, Broken Dam costs a cumulative $266,031 and Providence Portal costs $261,445 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Providence Portal. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Broken Dam and Providence Portal is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
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Sources: Snowy Monaro Regional rates (OLG and Snowy Monaro Regional rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.