Cedar Creek vs Terragon: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cedar Creek and Terragon are both Tweed rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 636.3 km and 634.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cedar Creek runs $400 a year cheaper than Terragon, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
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 →Cedar Creek
Terragon
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cedar Creek | Terragon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,400 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,699 | $23,099 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,499 | $7,899 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Cedar Creek | Terragon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,098 | $2,098 | - |
| Unit | $1,679 | $1,679 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Cedar Creek vs Terragon (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cedar Creek costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Cedar Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,499 from Cedar Creek versus $7,899 from Terragon.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cedar Creek cumulative | Terragon cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,699 | $23,099 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,160 | $71,397 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $120,512 | $122,636 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $260,219 | $264,804 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar Creek or Terragon cheaper to live in?
Cedar Creek is cheaper to run by car at $22,699 per year versus $23,099 for Terragon, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cedar Creek and Terragon?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,799 in Cedar Creek (Tweed rates (OLG) and $1,799 in Terragon (Tweed rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cedar Creek and $1,300 in Terragon. 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 Cedar Creek and Terragon?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Cedar Creek and $17,600 from Terragon to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cedar Creek and $2,400 from Terragon.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cedar Creek and Terragon?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cedar Creek costs a cumulative $260,219 and Terragon costs $264,804 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Cedar Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cedar Creek and Terragon 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Tweed rates (OLG and Tweed rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.