Carey Bay vs Kilaben Bay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carey Bay and Kilaben Bay are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Carey Bay runs $12,847 a year cheaper than Kilaben Bay, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $147,276.
Over 10 years, Carey Bay costs about $147,300 less to run than Kilaben Bay. That's about $283 a week.
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Kilaben Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carey Bay | Kilaben Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,153 | $18,200 | -$13,047 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $18,200 | -$15,800 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $1,600 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,093 | $22,940 | -$12,847 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,340 | $22,940 | -$15,600 |
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 | Carey Bay | Kilaben Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Carey Bay vs Kilaben Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carey Bay costs $12,847 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $147,276 in favour of Carey Bay.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $13,047 per year. Kilaben Bay is 100 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $15,600 per year, $7,340 from Carey Bay versus $22,940 from Kilaben Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Carey Bay by $13,047 a year, $5,153 against $18,200.
- Building insurance favours Kilaben Bay by $200 a year, $1,600 against $1,800.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Carey Bay against medium in Kilaben Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Kilaben Bay against low in Carey Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.6 in Carey Bay against 5.9 in Kilaben Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carey Bay cumulative | Kilaben Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,093 | $22,940 | $12,847 |
| Year 3 | $31,196 | $70,905 | $39,709 |
| Year 5 | $53,585 | $121,792 | $68,207 |
| Year 10 | $115,705 | $262,981 | $147,276 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carey Bay or Kilaben Bay cheaper to live in?
Carey Bay is cheaper to run by car at $10,093 per year versus $22,940 for Kilaben Bay, a difference of $12,847 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carey Bay and Kilaben Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Carey Bay (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Kilaben Bay (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Carey Bay and $1,377 in Kilaben Bay. 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 Carey Bay and Kilaben Bay?
Carey Bay is $5,153 a year to drive to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Kilaben Bay is $18,200 a year to drive to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Carey Bay. No daily public transport commute is assumed from Kilaben Bay, so it is costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carey Bay and Kilaben Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carey Bay costs a cumulative $115,705 and Kilaben Bay costs $262,981 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $147,276 in favour of Carey Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carey Bay and Kilaben Bay suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.