Burnt Bridge vs South Kempsey, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 38 km and 34.9 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Burnt Bridge runs $404 a year cheaper than South Kempsey, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,632.
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.
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South Kempsey
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burnt Bridge | South Kempsey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,971 | $6,875 | +$96 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,971 | $6,875 | +$96 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $2,650 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,913 | $12,317 | -$404 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,913 | $12,317 | -$404 |
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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Burnt Bridge | South Kempsey | 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, Burnt Bridge vs South Kempsey (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey differ by $404 a year by car, but $500 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 $96, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. South Kempsey carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $404 per year, $11,913 from Burnt Bridge versus $12,317 from South Kempsey.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Kempsey by $96 a year, $6,875 against $6,971.
- Building insurance favours Burnt Bridge by $500 a year, $2,150 against $2,650.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in South Kempsey against medium in Burnt Bridge, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burnt Bridge cumulative | South Kempsey cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,913 | $12,317 | $404 |
| Year 3 | $36,822 | $38,071 | $1,249 |
| Year 5 | $63,248 | $65,393 | $2,145 |
| Year 10 | $136,569 | $141,201 | $4,632 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burnt Bridge or South Kempsey cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Burnt Bridge runs $11,913 a year by car and South Kempsey $12,317, but most of the $404 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $96. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Burnt Bridge (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in South Kempsey (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Burnt Bridge and $1,300 in South Kempsey. 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 Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,971 from Burnt Bridge and $6,875 from South Kempsey to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burnt Bridge costs a cumulative $136,569 and South Kempsey costs $141,201 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,632 in favour of Burnt Bridge. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burnt Bridge and South Kempsey suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey rates (OLG 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.