Burrell Creek vs Karaak Flat, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Burrell Creek runs $400 a year cheaper than Karaak Flat, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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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Karaak Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burrell Creek | Karaak Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,200 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,909 | $23,309 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,909 | $23,309 | -$400 |
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 | Burrell Creek | Karaak Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Burrell Creek vs Karaak Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Karaak Flat carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $22,909 from Burrell Creek versus $23,309 from Karaak Flat.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Burrell Creek by $400 a year, $1,800 against $2,200.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Karaak Flat against low in Burrell Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burrell Creek cumulative | Karaak Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,909 | $23,309 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,809 | $72,046 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $121,627 | $123,751 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $262,626 | $267,212 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burrell Creek or Karaak Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Burrell Creek runs $22,909 a year by car and Karaak Flat $23,309, but most of the $400 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Burrell Creek (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Karaak Flat (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Burrell Creek and $1,300 in Karaak Flat. 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 Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat?
Burrell Creek 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. Karaak Flat 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burrell Creek costs a cumulative $262,626 and Karaak Flat costs $267,212 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Burrell Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burrell Creek and Karaak Flat suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.