Collombatti vs Deep Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Collombatti and Deep Creek are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Deep Creek runs $1,100 a year cheaper than Collombatti, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.
Over 10 years, Deep Creek costs about $12,600 less to run than Collombatti — the same as paying $12,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Collombatti
Deep Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Collombatti | Deep Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,500 | $2,400 | +$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,492 | $23,392 | +$1,100 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,692 | $7,592 | +$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Collombatti | Deep Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 — Collombatti vs Deep Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Deep Creek costs $1,100 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,610 in favour of Deep Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Collombatti carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $8,692 from Collombatti versus $7,592 from Deep Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Deep Creek by $1,100 a year, $2,400 against $3,500.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Collombatti against low in Deep Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 3.4 in Collombatti against 2 in Deep Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Collombatti cumulative | Deep Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,492 | $23,392 | $1,100 |
| Year 3 | $75,702 | $72,302 | $3,400 |
| Year 5 | $130,031 | $124,191 | $5,840 |
| Year 10 | $280,773 | $268,163 | $12,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collombatti or Deep Creek cheaper to live in?
Deep Creek is cheaper to run by car at $23,392 per year versus $24,492 for Collombatti, a difference of $1,100 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Collombatti and Deep Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Collombatti (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Deep Creek (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Collombatti and $1,300 in Deep Creek. 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 Collombatti and Deep Creek?
Collombatti carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Deep Creek carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from Collombatti and $2,400 from Deep Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Collombatti and Deep Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Collombatti costs a cumulative $280,773 and Deep Creek costs $268,163 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of Deep Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Collombatti and Deep Creek 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: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.