Corangula vs Mooneba: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Corangula and Mooneba are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mooneba runs $11,484 a year cheaper than Corangula, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $131,651.
Over 10 years, Mooneba costs about $131,700 less to run than Corangula — the same as paying $131,700 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 →Corangula
Mooneba
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Corangula | Mooneba | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $6,716 | +$11,484 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $2,450 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,442 | $11,958 | +$11,484 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,642 | $7,642 | - |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Corangula | Mooneba | 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 — Corangula vs Mooneba (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mooneba costs $11,484 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $131,651 in favour of Mooneba.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,484 per year. Corangula is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,642 and $7,642 a year, so the $11,484 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mooneba by $11,484 a year, $6,716 against $18,200.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,450 a year.
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 commute distance.
The catchment state school scores 3.4 in Mooneba against 2 in Corangula, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Corangula cumulative | Mooneba cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,442 | $11,958 | $11,484 |
| Year 3 | $72,457 | $36,961 | $35,496 |
| Year 5 | $124,457 | $63,487 | $60,970 |
| Year 10 | $268,736 | $137,085 | $131,651 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Corangula or Mooneba cheaper to live in?
Mooneba is cheaper to run by car at $11,958 per year versus $23,442 for Corangula, a difference of $11,484 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Corangula and Mooneba?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Corangula (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Mooneba (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Corangula and $1,300 in Mooneba. 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 Corangula and Mooneba?
Corangula 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. Mooneba is $6,716 a year to drive to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Corangula and $2,400 from Mooneba.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Corangula and Mooneba?
At 3% annual cost growth, Corangula costs a cumulative $268,736 and Mooneba costs $137,085 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $131,651 in favour of Mooneba. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Corangula and Mooneba 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.
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.