Cashmere vs Whiteside, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cashmere and Whiteside are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 22.8 km and 26.8 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cashmere runs $330 a year cheaper than Whiteside, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,783.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,800, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Whiteside
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cashmere | Whiteside | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,697 | $6,227 | -$530 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $2,000 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,400 | $2,200 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $11,350 | $11,680 | -$330 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,845 | $5,645 | +$200 |
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 | Cashmere | Whiteside | 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, Cashmere vs Whiteside (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cashmere and Whiteside differ by $330 a year by car, but $200 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 $530, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $530 per year. Whiteside is 26.8 km from Brisbane CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $5,845 from Cashmere versus $5,645 from Whiteside.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cashmere by $530 a year, $5,697 against $6,227.
- Building insurance favours Whiteside by $200 a year, $2,000 against $2,200.
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 7.8 in Cashmere against 5.8 in Whiteside, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cashmere cumulative | Whiteside cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,350 | $11,680 | $330 |
| Year 3 | $35,082 | $36,102 | $1,020 |
| Year 5 | $60,259 | $62,011 | $1,752 |
| Year 10 | $130,115 | $133,898 | $3,783 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cashmere or Whiteside cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cashmere runs $11,350 a year by car and Whiteside $11,680, but most of the $330 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $530. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cashmere and Whiteside?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Cashmere (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Whiteside (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Cashmere and $2,144 in Whiteside. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Cashmere and Whiteside?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,697 from Cashmere and $6,227 from Whiteside to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Cashmere and $192 from Whiteside.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cashmere and Whiteside?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cashmere costs a cumulative $130,115 and Whiteside costs $133,898 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,783 in favour of Cashmere. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cashmere and Whiteside suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay 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.