Camden Head vs Dunbogan, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Camden Head and Dunbogan are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.5 km and 25.7 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Camden Head runs $757 a year cheaper than Dunbogan, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,678.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,700, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Dunbogan
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Camden Head | Dunbogan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,939 | $6,096 | -$157 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,939 | $6,096 | -$157 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $3,100 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,109 | $11,866 | -$757 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,109 | $11,866 | -$757 |
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 | Camden Head | Dunbogan | 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, Camden Head vs Dunbogan (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Camden Head and Dunbogan differ by $757 a year by car, but $600 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 $157, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Dunbogan carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $757 per year, $11,109 from Camden Head versus $11,866 from Dunbogan.
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 Camden Head by $157 a year, $5,939 against $6,096.
- Building insurance favours Camden Head by $600 a year, $2,500 against $3,100.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Dunbogan against low in Camden Head, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Camden Head cumulative | Dunbogan cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,109 | $11,866 | $757 |
| Year 3 | $34,337 | $36,677 | $2,340 |
| Year 5 | $58,979 | $62,998 | $4,019 |
| Year 10 | $127,352 | $136,030 | $8,678 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camden Head or Dunbogan cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Camden Head runs $11,109 a year by car and Dunbogan $11,866, but most of the $757 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $157. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Camden Head and Dunbogan?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Camden Head (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Dunbogan (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Camden Head and $1,300 in Dunbogan. 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 Camden Head and Dunbogan?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,939 from Camden Head and $6,096 from Dunbogan 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 Camden Head and Dunbogan?
At 3% annual cost growth, Camden Head costs a cumulative $127,352 and Dunbogan costs $136,030 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,678 in favour of Camden Head. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Camden Head and Dunbogan 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.