Cooperabung vs Telegraph Point: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cooperabung and Telegraph Point are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 322.5 km and 318.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cooperabung runs $1,100 a year cheaper than Telegraph Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.
Over 10 years, Cooperabung costs about $12,600 less to run than Telegraph Point — 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 →Cooperabung
Telegraph Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cooperabung | Telegraph Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $3,500 | -$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,670 | $23,770 | -$1,100 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,470 | $8,570 | -$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Cooperabung | Telegraph Point | 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 — Cooperabung vs Telegraph Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cooperabung 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 Cooperabung.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Telegraph Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $7,470 from Cooperabung versus $8,570 from Telegraph Point.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cooperabung cumulative | Telegraph Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,670 | $23,770 | $1,100 |
| Year 3 | $70,071 | $73,471 | $3,400 |
| Year 5 | $120,358 | $126,198 | $5,840 |
| Year 10 | $259,886 | $272,496 | $12,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooperabung or Telegraph Point cheaper to live in?
Cooperabung is cheaper to run by car at $22,670 per year versus $23,770 for Telegraph Point, a difference of $1,100 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cooperabung and Telegraph Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Cooperabung (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Telegraph Point (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cooperabung and $1,300 in Telegraph Point. 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 Cooperabung and Telegraph Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Cooperabung and $17,600 from Telegraph Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cooperabung and $2,400 from Telegraph Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cooperabung and Telegraph Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cooperabung costs a cumulative $259,886 and Telegraph Point costs $272,496 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of Cooperabung. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cooperabung and Telegraph Point 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: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings 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.