Callaghans Creek vs Cundle 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
Callaghans Creek and Cundle Flat are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cundle Flat runs $350 a year cheaper than Callaghans Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cundle Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Callaghans Creek | Cundle 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 | $2,150 | $1,800 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,259 | $22,909 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,259 | $22,909 | +$350 |
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 | Callaghans Creek | Cundle 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, Callaghans Creek vs Cundle Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Callaghans Creek and Cundle Flat differ by $350 a year by car, but $350 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 $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $23,259 from Callaghans Creek versus $22,909 from Cundle 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 Cundle Flat by $350 a year, $1,800 against $2,150.
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 Callaghans Creek against medium in Cundle Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Callaghans Creek cumulative | Cundle Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,259 | $22,909 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $71,891 | $70,809 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $123,485 | $121,627 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $266,638 | $262,626 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Callaghans Creek or Cundle Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Callaghans Creek runs $23,259 a year by car and Cundle Flat $22,909, but most of the $350 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 Callaghans Creek and Cundle Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Callaghans Creek (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Cundle Flat (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Callaghans Creek and $1,300 in Cundle 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 Callaghans Creek and Cundle Flat?
Callaghans 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. Cundle 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 Callaghans Creek and Cundle Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Callaghans Creek costs a cumulative $266,638 and Cundle Flat costs $262,626 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Cundle Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Callaghans Creek and Cundle 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.