Camden Head vs Grants Beach, 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 Grants Beach are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.5 km and 22.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $297 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Grants Beach
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Camden Head | Grants Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,939 | $5,636 | +$303 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,939 | $5,636 | +$303 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $3,100 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,109 | $11,406 | -$297 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,109 | $11,406 | -$297 |
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 | Grants Beach | 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 Grants Beach (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Camden Head and Grants Beach differ by $297 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 $303, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Grants Beach carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $297 per year, $11,109 from Camden Head versus $11,406 from Grants Beach.
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 Grants Beach by $303 a year, $5,636 against $5,939.
- 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 Grants Beach against low in Camden Head, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Camden Head cumulative | Grants Beach cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,109 | $11,406 | $297 |
| Year 3 | $34,337 | $35,255 | $918 |
| Year 5 | $58,979 | $60,556 | $1,577 |
| Year 10 | $127,352 | $130,757 | $3,405 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camden Head or Grants Beach cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Camden Head runs $11,109 a year by car and Grants Beach $11,406, but most of the $297 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $303. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Camden Head and Grants Beach?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Camden Head (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Grants Beach (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Camden Head and $1,300 in Grants Beach. 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 Grants Beach?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,939 from Camden Head and $5,636 from Grants Beach 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 Grants Beach?
At 3% annual cost growth, Camden Head costs a cumulative $127,352 and Grants Beach costs $130,757 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,405 in favour of Camden Head. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Camden Head and Grants Beach 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.