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 $450 a year cheaper than Cooranbong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,159.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Cooranbong
Martinsville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cooranbong | Martinsville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,032 | $4,032 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $2,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,022 | $9,572 | +$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,390 | $7,940 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Martinsville costs $450 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,159 in favour of Martinsville.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Cooranbong carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $8,390 from Cooranbong versus $7,940 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 $450 a year, $2,400 against $2,850.
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 | $10,022 | $9,572 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $30,977 | $29,586 | $1,391 |
| Year 5 | $53,208 | $50,819 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $114,891 | $109,732 | $5,159 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooranbong or Martinsville cheaper to live in?
Martinsville is cheaper to run by car at $9,572 per year versus $10,022 for Cooranbong, a difference of $450 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $114,891 and Martinsville costs $109,732 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,159 in favour of Martinsville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cooranbong and Martinsville 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.