Carrington vs Harristown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carrington and Harristown are both Toowoomba Regional Council suburbs, sitting 5.5 km and 3.1 km from Toowoomba CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Harristown runs $799 a year cheaper than Carrington, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,159.
Over 10 years, Harristown costs about $9,200 less to run than Carrington. That's about $18 a week.
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Harristown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carrington | Harristown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,444 | $1,444 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,188 | $2,188 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,790 | $1,041 | +$749 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,500 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,972 | $6,173 | +$799 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,374 | $5,324 | +$50 |
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 | Carrington | Harristown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,274 | $2,274 | - |
| Unit | $1,870 | $1,870 | - |
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, Carrington vs Harristown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Harristown costs $799 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,159 in favour of Harristown.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $749 per year. Carrington is 5.5 km from Toowoomba CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,374 and $5,324 a year, so the $799 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,444 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,188 a year.
- Driving commute favours Harristown by $749 a year, $1,041 against $1,790.
- Building insurance favours Harristown by $50 a year, $1,500 against $1,550.
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.
The catchment state school scores 3.6 in Carrington against 2.5 in Harristown, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carrington cumulative | Harristown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,972 | $6,173 | $799 |
| Year 3 | $21,550 | $19,080 | $2,470 |
| Year 5 | $37,015 | $32,773 | $4,242 |
| Year 10 | $79,926 | $70,767 | $9,159 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carrington or Harristown cheaper to live in?
Harristown is cheaper to run by car at $6,173 per year versus $6,972 for Carrington, a difference of $799 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carrington and Harristown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,444 in Carrington (Toowoomba Regional Council) and $1,444 in Harristown (Toowoomba Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,188 in Carrington and $2,188 in Harristown. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Carrington and Harristown?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,790 from Carrington and $1,041 from Harristown to Toowoomba CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Carrington and $192 from Harristown.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carrington and Harristown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carrington costs a cumulative $79,926 and Harristown costs $70,767 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,159 in favour of Harristown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carrington and Harristown suits you better?
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Sources: Toowoomba Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional 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.