Commissioners Creek vs Upper Wilsons 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
Commissioners Creek (Tweed rates (OLG) and Upper Wilsons Creek (Byron rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Upper Wilsons Creek runs $600 a year cheaper than Commissioners Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,878.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Upper Wilsons Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Commissioners Creek | Upper Wilsons Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,799 | $1,649 | +$150 |
| 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 | $1,850 | $1,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,149 | $22,549 | +$600 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,149 | $22,549 | +$600 |
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 | Commissioners Creek | Upper Wilsons 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, Commissioners Creek vs Upper Wilsons Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Commissioners Creek and Upper Wilsons Creek differ by $600 a year by car, but $450 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 $150, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $23,149 from Commissioners Creek versus $22,549 from Upper Wilsons Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Upper Wilsons Creek by $150 a year, $1,649 against $1,799.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Upper Wilsons Creek by $450 a year, $1,400 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated high in Commissioners Creek against medium in Upper Wilsons Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Commissioners Creek cumulative | Upper Wilsons Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,149 | $22,549 | $600 |
| Year 3 | $71,551 | $69,697 | $1,854 |
| Year 5 | $122,901 | $119,716 | $3,185 |
| Year 10 | $265,377 | $258,499 | $6,878 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Commissioners Creek or Upper Wilsons Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Commissioners Creek runs $23,149 a year by car and Upper Wilsons Creek $22,549, but most of the $600 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $150. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Commissioners Creek and Upper Wilsons Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,799 in Commissioners Creek (Tweed rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Upper Wilsons Creek (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Commissioners Creek and $1,300 in Upper Wilsons 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 Commissioners Creek and Upper Wilsons Creek?
Commissioners 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. Upper Wilsons 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Commissioners Creek and Upper Wilsons Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Commissioners Creek costs a cumulative $265,377 and Upper Wilsons Creek costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,878 in favour of Upper Wilsons Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Commissioners Creek and Upper Wilsons Creek suits you better?
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Sources: Tweed rates (OLG and Byron 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.