Carindale vs Tingalpa, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carindale and Tingalpa are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 9.9 km and 10.1 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Carindale runs $1,003 a year cheaper than Tingalpa, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,499.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,500, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tingalpa
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carindale | Tingalpa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,031 | $3,084 | -$53 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $3,100 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,900 | $2,400 | +$500 |
| Total (driving) | $8,031 | $9,034 | -$1,003 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,192 | $6,142 | -$950 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Carindale | Tingalpa | 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, Carindale vs Tingalpa (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carindale and Tingalpa differ by $1,003 a year by car, but $950 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 $53, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year. Tingalpa carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $5,192 from Carindale versus $6,142 from Tingalpa.
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 Carindale by $53 a year, $3,031 against $3,084.
- Building insurance favours Carindale by $950 a year, $2,150 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Tingalpa against medium in Carindale, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.2 in Carindale against 8 in Tingalpa, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carindale cumulative | Tingalpa cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,031 | $9,034 | $1,003 |
| Year 3 | $24,823 | $27,923 | $3,100 |
| Year 5 | $42,638 | $47,963 | $5,325 |
| Year 10 | $92,066 | $103,565 | $11,499 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carindale or Tingalpa cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carindale runs $8,031 a year by car and Tingalpa $9,034, but most of the $1,003 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $53. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carindale and Tingalpa?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Carindale (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Tingalpa (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Carindale and $1,900 in Tingalpa. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Carindale and Tingalpa?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,031 from Carindale and $3,084 from Tingalpa to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Carindale and $192 from Tingalpa.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carindale and Tingalpa?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carindale costs a cumulative $92,066 and Tingalpa costs $103,565 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,499 in favour of Carindale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carindale and Tingalpa suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.