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.
Camden Head runs $397 a year cheaper than Grants Beach, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,552.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Camden Head
Grants Beach
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Camden Head | Grants Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,939 | $5,636 | +$303 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $3,500 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,409 | $11,806 | -$397 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,870 | $8,570 | -$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $397 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,552 in favour of Camden Head.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Grants Beach carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $7,870 from Camden Head versus $8,570 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 $700 a year, $2,800 against $3,500.
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 | $11,409 | $11,806 | $397 |
| Year 3 | $35,264 | $36,491 | $1,227 |
| Year 5 | $60,572 | $62,680 | $2,108 |
| Year 10 | $130,791 | $135,343 | $4,552 |
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?
Camden Head is cheaper to run by car at $11,409 per year versus $11,806 for Grants Beach, a difference of $397 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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). Public transport costs $2,400 from Camden Head and $2,400 from Grants Beach.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Camden Head and Grants Beach?
At 3% annual cost growth, Camden Head costs a cumulative $130,791 and Grants Beach costs $135,343 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,552 in favour of Camden Head. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Camden Head and Grants Beach is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.