Cairncross vs Pembrooke, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cairncross and Pembrooke are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.4 km and 17.1 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pembrooke runs $380 a year cheaper than Cairncross, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,356.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,400, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pembrooke
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cairncross | Pembrooke | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,478 | $4,698 | +$780 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,478 | $4,698 | +$780 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $2,550 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,298 | $9,918 | +$380 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,298 | $9,918 | +$380 |
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 | Cairncross | Pembrooke | 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, Cairncross vs Pembrooke (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cairncross and Pembrooke differ by $380 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 $780, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $780 per year. Cairncross is 21.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $380 per year, $10,298 from Cairncross versus $9,918 from Pembrooke.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pembrooke by $780 a year, $4,698 against $5,478.
- Building insurance favours Cairncross by $400 a year, $2,150 against $2,550.
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 Pembrooke against low in Cairncross, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cairncross cumulative | Pembrooke cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,298 | $9,918 | $380 |
| Year 3 | $31,830 | $30,656 | $1,174 |
| Year 5 | $54,673 | $52,656 | $2,017 |
| Year 10 | $118,055 | $113,699 | $4,356 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cairncross or Pembrooke cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cairncross runs $10,298 a year by car and Pembrooke $9,918, but most of the $380 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $780. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cairncross and Pembrooke?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Cairncross (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Pembrooke (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cairncross and $1,300 in Pembrooke. 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 Cairncross and Pembrooke?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,478 from Cairncross and $4,698 from Pembrooke 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 Cairncross and Pembrooke?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cairncross costs a cumulative $118,055 and Pembrooke costs $113,699 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,356 in favour of Pembrooke. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cairncross and Pembrooke suits you better?
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Sources: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings 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.