Broken Head vs Suffolk Park: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Broken Head and Suffolk Park are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 616.3 km and 619.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, 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 $4,586.
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 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) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,500 | $3,100 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,049 | $23,649 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,849 | $8,449 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/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 | $2,098 | $2,098 | - |
| Unit | $1,679 | $1,679 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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 $4,586 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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Broken Head cumulative | Suffolk Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,049 | $23,649 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $74,333 | $73,097 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $127,679 | $125,556 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $275,695 | $271,109 | $4,586 |
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 $23,649 per year versus $24,049 for Broken Head, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/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?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Broken Head and $17,600 from Suffolk Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). 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 $275,695 and Suffolk Park costs $271,109 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.