Camp Hill vs Carina: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Camp Hill and Carina are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 6 km and 7.6 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Carina runs $436 a year cheaper than Camp Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,998.
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 →Camp Hill
Carina
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Camp Hill | Carina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,939 | $2,403 | -$464 |
| Commute (public transport) | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $1,900 | +$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,200 | $2,800 | +$400 |
| Total (driving) | $7,589 | $7,153 | +$436 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,842 | $4,942 | +$900 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Camp Hill | Carina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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 — Camp Hill vs Carina (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carina costs $436 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,998 in favour of Carina.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $5,842 from Camp Hill versus $4,942 from Carina.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Camp Hill by $464 a year, $1,939 against $2,403.
- Building insurance favours Carina by $900 a year, $1,900 against $2,800.
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 Camp Hill against medium in Carina, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.3 in Camp Hill against 6.9 in Carina, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Camp Hill cumulative | Carina cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,589 | $7,153 | $436 |
| Year 3 | $23,457 | $22,109 | $1,348 |
| Year 5 | $40,291 | $37,976 | $2,315 |
| Year 10 | $86,999 | $82,001 | $4,998 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camp Hill or Carina cheaper to live in?
Carina is cheaper to run by car at $7,153 per year versus $7,589 for Camp Hill, a difference of $436 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Camp Hill and Carina?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Camp Hill (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Carina (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Camp Hill and $1,900 in Carina. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Camp Hill and Carina?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,939 from Camp Hill and $2,403 from Carina to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Camp Hill and $192 from Carina.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Camp Hill and Carina?
At 3% annual cost growth, Camp Hill costs a cumulative $86,999 and Carina costs $82,001 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,998 in favour of Carina. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Camp Hill and Carina 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.
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City Council 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.