Collombatti vs Skillion Flat, 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 Skillion Flat are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Skillion Flat runs $850 a year cheaper than Collombatti, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,744.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,700, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Skillion Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Collombatti | Skillion Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $1,800 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,642 | $22,792 | +$850 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,642 | $22,792 | +$850 |
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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Collombatti | Skillion Flat | 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 Skillion Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Collombatti and Skillion Flat differ by $850 a year by car, but $850 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Collombatti carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $23,642 from Collombatti versus $22,792 from Skillion Flat.
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 Skillion Flat by $850 a year, $1,800 against $2,650.
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 Skillion Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Collombatti cumulative | Skillion Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,642 | $22,792 | $850 |
| Year 3 | $73,075 | $70,448 | $2,627 |
| Year 5 | $125,519 | $121,006 | $4,513 |
| Year 10 | $271,029 | $261,285 | $9,744 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collombatti or Skillion Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Collombatti runs $23,642 a year by car and Skillion Flat $22,792, but most of the $850 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Collombatti and Skillion Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Collombatti (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Skillion Flat (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Collombatti and $1,300 in Skillion Flat. 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 Skillion Flat?
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. Skillion Flat 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Collombatti and Skillion Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Collombatti costs a cumulative $271,029 and Skillion Flat costs $261,285 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,744 in favour of Skillion Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Collombatti and Skillion Flat suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.