Darra vs Seventeen Mile Rocks, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 13.1 km and 11 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Darra runs $837 a year cheaper than Seventeen Mile Rocks, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,596.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,600, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Seventeen Mile Rocks
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Darra | Seventeen Mile Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,828 | $3,315 | +$513 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $2,800 | -$1,350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,800 | $2,400 | +$400 |
| Total (driving) | $8,128 | $8,965 | -$837 |
| Total (public transport) | $4,492 | $5,842 | -$1,350 |
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 | Darra | Seventeen Mile Rocks | 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, Darra vs Seventeen Mile Rocks (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks differ by $837 a year by car, but $1,350 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 $513, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,350 per year. Seventeen Mile Rocks carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,350 per year, $4,492 from Darra versus $5,842 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Seventeen Mile Rocks by $513 a year, $3,315 against $3,828.
- Building insurance favours Darra by $1,350 a year, $1,450 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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Seventeen Mile Rocks against low in Darra, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Seventeen Mile Rocks against medium in Darra, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.9 in Seventeen Mile Rocks against 5.5 in Darra, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Darra cumulative | Seventeen Mile Rocks cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,128 | $8,965 | $837 |
| Year 3 | $25,123 | $27,710 | $2,587 |
| Year 5 | $43,153 | $47,596 | $4,443 |
| Year 10 | $93,178 | $102,774 | $9,596 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Darra or Seventeen Mile Rocks cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Darra runs $8,128 a year by car and Seventeen Mile Rocks $8,965, but most of the $837 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $513. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Darra (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Seventeen Mile Rocks (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Darra and $1,900 in Seventeen Mile Rocks. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,828 from Darra and $3,315 from Seventeen Mile Rocks to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Darra and $192 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
At 3% annual cost growth, Darra costs a cumulative $93,178 and Seventeen Mile Rocks costs $102,774 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,596 in favour of Darra. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Darra and Seventeen Mile Rocks suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City 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.