Crosslands vs Wauchope, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Crosslands and Wauchope are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18 km and 17 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $153 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,800, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wauchope
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Crosslands | Wauchope | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,875 | $4,678 | +$197 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,875 | $4,678 | +$197 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $3,100 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,295 | $10,448 | -$153 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,295 | $10,448 | -$153 |
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 | Crosslands | Wauchope | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Crosslands vs Wauchope (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Crosslands and Wauchope differ by $153 a year by car, but $350 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 $197, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Wauchope carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $10,295 and $10,448 a year, so the $153 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wauchope by $197 a year, $4,678 against $4,875.
- Building insurance favours Crosslands by $350 a year, $2,750 against $3,100.
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 and the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Wauchope against medium in Crosslands, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Crosslands cumulative | Wauchope cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,295 | $10,448 | $153 |
| Year 3 | $31,821 | $32,294 | $473 |
| Year 5 | $54,658 | $55,470 | $812 |
| Year 10 | $118,021 | $119,775 | $1,754 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crosslands or Wauchope cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Crosslands runs $10,295 a year by car and Wauchope $10,448, but most of the $153 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $197. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Crosslands and Wauchope?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Crosslands (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Wauchope (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Crosslands and $1,300 in Wauchope. 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 Crosslands and Wauchope?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,875 from Crosslands and $4,678 from Wauchope to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Crosslands and Wauchope?
At 3% annual cost growth, Crosslands costs a cumulative $118,021 and Wauchope costs $119,775 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,754 in favour of Crosslands. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Crosslands and Wauchope suits you better?
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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 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.