Cooranbong vs Martinsville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cooranbong and Martinsville are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 92.3 km and 92.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Martinsville runs $300 a year cheaper than Cooranbong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Martinsville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cooranbong | Martinsville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,032 | $4,032 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,022 | $8,722 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,090 | +$300 |
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 | Cooranbong | Martinsville | 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, Cooranbong vs Martinsville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cooranbong and Martinsville differ by $300 a year by car, but $300 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 $300 per year. Cooranbong carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,390 from Cooranbong versus $7,090 from Martinsville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $4,032 a year.
- Building insurance favours Martinsville by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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 medium in Cooranbong against low in Martinsville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cooranbong cumulative | Martinsville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,022 | $8,722 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $27,886 | $26,959 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $47,899 | $46,306 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $103,427 | $99,988 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooranbong or Martinsville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cooranbong runs $9,022 a year by car and Martinsville $8,722, but most of the $300 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 Cooranbong and Martinsville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Martinsville (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Cooranbong and $1,377 in Martinsville. 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 Cooranbong and Martinsville?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,032 from Cooranbong and $4,032 from Martinsville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cooranbong and $2,400 from Martinsville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cooranbong and Martinsville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cooranbong costs a cumulative $103,427 and Martinsville costs $99,988 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Martinsville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cooranbong and Martinsville suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.