Browns Plains vs Loganlea, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Browns Plains and Loganlea are both Logan City Council suburbs, sitting 21.6 km and 25.4 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Loganlea runs $402 a year cheaper than Browns Plains, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,608.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Brisbane suburbs that fit your budget →Browns Plains
Loganlea
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Browns Plains | Loganlea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,699 | $1,699 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,149 | $2,149 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $6,058 | -$548 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,400 | +$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,400 | $2,200 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $11,708 | $11,306 | +$402 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,390 | $5,440 | +$950 |
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 | Browns Plains | Loganlea | 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, Browns Plains vs Loganlea (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Browns Plains and Loganlea differ by $402 a year by car, but $950 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 $548, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $6,390 from Browns Plains versus $5,440 from Loganlea.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,699 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,149 a year.
- Driving commute favours Browns Plains by $548 a year, $5,510 against $6,058.
- Building insurance favours Loganlea by $950 a year, $1,400 against $2,350.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Browns Plains against medium in Loganlea, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Browns Plains cumulative | Loganlea cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,708 | $11,306 | $402 |
| Year 3 | $36,188 | $34,946 | $1,242 |
| Year 5 | $62,159 | $60,025 | $2,134 |
| Year 10 | $134,219 | $129,611 | $4,608 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Browns Plains or Loganlea cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Browns Plains runs $11,708 a year by car and Loganlea $11,306, but most of the $402 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $548. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Browns Plains and Loganlea?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,699 in Browns Plains (Logan City Council) and $1,699 in Loganlea (Logan City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,149 in Browns Plains and $2,149 in Loganlea. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Browns Plains and Loganlea?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,510 from Browns Plains and $6,058 from Loganlea to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Browns Plains and $192 from Loganlea.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Browns Plains and Loganlea?
At 3% annual cost growth, Browns Plains costs a cumulative $134,219 and Loganlea costs $129,611 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,608 in favour of Loganlea. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Browns Plains and Loganlea suits you better?
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: Logan City Council and Logan City Council 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.