Cooks Hill vs The Hill: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cooks Hill and The Hill are both Newcastle rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 1.3 km and 0.8 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The Hill runs $1,100 a year cheaper than Cooks Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.
Over 10 years, The Hill costs about $12,600 less to run than Cooks Hill — 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 →Cooks Hill
The Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cooks Hill | The Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,858 | $1,858 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $514 | $514 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $1,700 | +$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,549 | $5,449 | +$1,100 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,435 | $7,335 | +$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 | Cooks Hill | The Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 — Cooks Hill vs The Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
The Hill 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 The Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Cooks Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $8,435 from Cooks Hill versus $7,335 from The Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,858 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $514 a year.
- Building insurance favours The Hill by $1,100 a year, $1,700 against $2,800.
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 Cooks Hill against low in The Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cooks Hill cumulative | The Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,549 | $5,449 | $1,100 |
| Year 3 | $20,242 | $16,842 | $3,400 |
| Year 5 | $34,770 | $28,929 | $5,841 |
| Year 10 | $75,077 | $62,467 | $12,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooks Hill or The Hill cheaper to live in?
The Hill is cheaper to run by car at $5,449 per year versus $6,549 for Cooks Hill, 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 Cooks Hill and The Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,858 in Cooks Hill (Newcastle rates (OLG) and $1,858 in The Hill (Newcastle rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Cooks Hill and $1,377 in The Hill. 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 Cooks Hill and The Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $514 from Cooks Hill and $514 from The Hill to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cooks Hill and $2,400 from The Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cooks Hill and The Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cooks Hill costs a cumulative $75,077 and The Hill costs $62,467 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of The Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cooks Hill and The Hill 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: Newcastle rates (OLG and Newcastle 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.