Brunswick Heads vs New Brighton: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brunswick Heads and New Brighton are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
New Brighton runs $400 a year cheaper than Brunswick Heads, 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 →Brunswick Heads
New Brighton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brunswick Heads | New Brighton | 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 | Brunswick Heads | New Brighton | 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 — Brunswick Heads vs New Brighton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
New Brighton 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 New Brighton.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Brunswick Heads carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,849 from Brunswick Heads versus $8,449 from New Brighton.
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 New Brighton 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 Brunswick Heads against medium in New Brighton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brunswick Heads cumulative | New Brighton 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 Brunswick Heads or New Brighton cheaper to live in?
New Brighton is cheaper to run by car at $24,249 per year versus $24,649 for Brunswick Heads, 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 Brunswick Heads and New Brighton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Brunswick Heads (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in New Brighton (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Brunswick Heads and $1,300 in New Brighton. 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 Brunswick Heads and New Brighton?
Brunswick Heads 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. New Brighton 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 Brunswick Heads and $2,400 from New Brighton.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Brunswick Heads and New Brighton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brunswick Heads costs a cumulative $282,573 and New Brighton costs $277,988 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of New Brighton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brunswick Heads and New Brighton 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.