Crowley Vale vs Lawes, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Crowley Vale and Lawes are both Lockyer Valley Regional Council suburbs, sitting 10 km and 5.8 km from Gatton CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lawes runs $728 a year cheaper than Crowley Vale, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,346.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,300, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lawes
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Crowley Vale | Lawes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,395 | $1,395 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,058 | $1,880 | +$1,178 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,058 | $1,880 | +$1,178 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,900 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,400 | $1,500 | -$100 |
| Total (driving) | $7,803 | $7,075 | +$728 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,803 | $7,075 | +$728 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Crowley Vale | Lawes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Crowley Vale vs Lawes (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Crowley Vale and Lawes differ by $728 a year by car, but $450 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 $1,178, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,178 per year. Crowley Vale is 10 km from Gatton CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $728 per year, $7,803 from Crowley Vale versus $7,075 from Lawes.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,395 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lawes by $1,178 a year, $1,880 against $3,058.
- Building insurance favours Crowley Vale by $450 a year, $1,450 against $1,900.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Crowley Vale cumulative | Lawes cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,803 | $7,075 | $728 |
| Year 3 | $24,118 | $21,868 | $2,250 |
| Year 5 | $41,427 | $37,562 | $3,865 |
| Year 10 | $89,453 | $81,107 | $8,346 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crowley Vale or Lawes cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Crowley Vale runs $7,803 a year by car and Lawes $7,075, but most of the $728 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $1,178. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Crowley Vale and Lawes?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,395 in Crowley Vale (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) and $1,395 in Lawes (Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Crowley Vale and $1,900 in Lawes. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Crowley Vale and Lawes?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,058 from Crowley Vale and $1,880 from Lawes to Gatton 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 Crowley Vale and Lawes?
At 3% annual cost growth, Crowley Vale costs a cumulative $89,453 and Lawes costs $81,107 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,346 in favour of Lawes. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Crowley Vale and Lawes suits you better?
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Sources: Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council 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.