Caboolture vs Narangba, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Caboolture and Narangba are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 45.5 km and 32.8 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Narangba runs $645 a year cheaper than Caboolture, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,394.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,400, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Narangba
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Caboolture | Narangba | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,857 | $6,762 | +$95 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,800 | $2,250 | +$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $2,200 | -$200 |
| Total (driving) | $13,110 | $12,465 | +$645 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,445 | $5,895 | +$550 |
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 | Caboolture | Narangba | 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, Caboolture vs Narangba (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Caboolture and Narangba differ by $645 a year by car, but $550 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 $95, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year. Caboolture carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $6,445 from Caboolture versus $5,895 from Narangba.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Narangba by $95 a year, $6,762 against $6,857.
- Building insurance favours Narangba by $550 a year, $2,250 against $2,800.
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 medium in Caboolture against low in Narangba, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Narangba against 4.5 in Caboolture, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Caboolture cumulative | Narangba cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,110 | $12,465 | $645 |
| Year 3 | $40,522 | $38,528 | $1,994 |
| Year 5 | $69,603 | $66,178 | $3,425 |
| Year 10 | $150,291 | $142,897 | $7,394 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caboolture or Narangba cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Caboolture runs $13,110 a year by car and Narangba $12,465, but most of the $645 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $95. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Caboolture and Narangba?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Caboolture (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Narangba (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Caboolture and $2,144 in Narangba. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Caboolture and Narangba?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,857 from Caboolture and $6,762 from Narangba to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Caboolture and $192 from Narangba.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Caboolture and Narangba?
At 3% annual cost growth, Caboolture costs a cumulative $150,291 and Narangba costs $142,897 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,394 in favour of Narangba. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Caboolture and Narangba suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Regional 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.