Dayboro vs Rush Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dayboro and Rush Creek are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 35.8 km and 33.3 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Rush Creek runs $819 a year cheaper than Dayboro, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,389.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,400, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Brisbane suburbs that fit your budget →Dayboro
Rush Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dayboro | Rush Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,912 | $6,793 | +$119 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,700 | $2,000 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,900 | $2,800 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $13,065 | $12,246 | +$819 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,345 | $5,645 | +$700 |
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 | Dayboro | Rush Creek | 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, Dayboro vs Rush Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dayboro and Rush Creek differ by $819 a year by car, but $700 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 $119, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Dayboro carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $6,345 from Dayboro versus $5,645 from Rush Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rush Creek by $119 a year, $6,793 against $6,912.
- Building insurance favours Rush Creek by $700 a year, $2,000 against $2,700.
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 Dayboro against low in Rush Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dayboro cumulative | Rush Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,065 | $12,246 | $819 |
| Year 3 | $40,383 | $37,851 | $2,532 |
| Year 5 | $69,364 | $65,016 | $4,348 |
| Year 10 | $149,776 | $140,387 | $9,389 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dayboro or Rush Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dayboro runs $13,065 a year by car and Rush Creek $12,246, but most of the $819 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $119. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dayboro and Rush Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Dayboro (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Rush Creek (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Dayboro and $2,144 in Rush Creek. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Dayboro and Rush Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,912 from Dayboro and $6,793 from Rush Creek to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Dayboro and $192 from Rush Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dayboro and Rush Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dayboro costs a cumulative $149,776 and Rush Creek costs $140,387 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,389 in favour of Rush Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dayboro and Rush Creek suits you better?
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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay 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.