Broken Head vs Suffolk Park: 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 Head and Suffolk Park are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Suffolk Park runs $400 a year cheaper than Broken Head, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
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 Head
Suffolk Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Broken Head | Suffolk Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,500 | $3,100 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,649 | $24,249 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,849 | $8,449 | +$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 Head | Suffolk Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 Head vs Suffolk Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Suffolk Park costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Suffolk Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Broken Head carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,849 from Broken Head versus $8,449 from Suffolk Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Suffolk Park by $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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 Head against medium in Suffolk Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Broken Head cumulative | Suffolk Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,649 | $24,249 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $76,188 | $74,951 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $130,865 | $128,741 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $282,573 | $277,988 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Broken Head or Suffolk Park cheaper to live in?
Suffolk Park is cheaper to run by car at $24,249 per year versus $24,649 for Broken Head, 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 Head and Suffolk Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Broken Head (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Suffolk Park (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Broken Head and $1,300 in Suffolk Park. 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 Head and Suffolk Park?
Broken Head 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. Suffolk Park 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 Head and $2,400 from Suffolk Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Broken Head and Suffolk Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Broken Head costs a cumulative $282,573 and Suffolk Park costs $277,988 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Suffolk Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Broken Head and Suffolk Park 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron 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.