Darawank vs Hallidays Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Darawank and Hallidays Point are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $150 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 $1,700, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Hallidays Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Darawank | Hallidays Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $2,800 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,759 | $23,909 | -$150 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,759 | $23,909 | -$150 |
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 | Darawank | Hallidays Point | 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, Darawank vs Hallidays Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Darawank and Hallidays Point differ by $150 a year by car, but $150 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 $150 per year. Hallidays Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $23,759 and $23,909 a year, so the $150 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Darawank by $150 a year, $2,650 against $2,800.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Darawank against medium in Hallidays Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.5 in Hallidays Point against 4.3 in Darawank, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Darawank cumulative | Hallidays Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,759 | $23,909 | $150 |
| Year 3 | $73,437 | $73,900 | $463 |
| Year 5 | $126,140 | $126,936 | $796 |
| Year 10 | $272,370 | $274,090 | $1,720 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Darawank or Hallidays Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Darawank runs $23,759 a year by car and Hallidays Point $23,909, but most of the $150 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 Darawank and Hallidays Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Darawank (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Hallidays Point (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Darawank and $1,300 in Hallidays Point. 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 Darawank and Hallidays Point?
Darawank 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. Hallidays Point 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Darawank and Hallidays Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Darawank costs a cumulative $272,370 and Hallidays Point costs $274,090 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,720 in favour of Darawank. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Darawank and Hallidays Point suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.