Deauville vs Diamond Head: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Deauville and Diamond Head are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.8 km and 32.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Deauville runs $696 a year cheaper than Diamond Head, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,979.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Deauville
Diamond Head
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Deauville | Diamond Head | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,441 | $6,737 | -$296 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,211 | $12,907 | -$696 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,170 | $8,570 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Deauville | Diamond Head | 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 — Deauville vs Diamond Head (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Deauville costs $696 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,979 in favour of Deauville.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Diamond Head carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,170 from Deauville versus $8,570 from Diamond Head.
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 Deauville by $296 a year, $6,441 against $6,737.
- Building insurance favours Deauville by $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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 Diamond Head against medium in Deauville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Deauville cumulative | Diamond Head cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,211 | $12,907 | $696 |
| Year 3 | $37,743 | $39,894 | $2,151 |
| Year 5 | $64,830 | $68,525 | $3,695 |
| Year 10 | $139,985 | $147,964 | $7,979 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Deauville or Diamond Head cheaper to live in?
Deauville is cheaper to run by car at $12,211 per year versus $12,907 for Diamond Head, a difference of $696 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Deauville and Diamond Head?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Deauville (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Diamond Head (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Deauville and $1,300 in Diamond Head. 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 Deauville and Diamond Head?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,441 from Deauville and $6,737 from Diamond Head to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Deauville and $2,400 from Diamond Head.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Deauville and Diamond Head?
At 3% annual cost growth, Deauville costs a cumulative $139,985 and Diamond Head costs $147,964 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,979 in favour of Deauville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Deauville and Diamond Head is best to actually live in?
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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.