Deep Creek vs Malabugilmah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Deep Creek and Malabugilmah are both Clarence Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Malabugilmah runs $350 a year cheaper than Deep Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,013.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Malabugilmah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Deep Creek | Malabugilmah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,439 | $1,439 | - |
| 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 | $2,150 | $1,800 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,089 | $22,739 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,089 | $22,739 | +$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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Deep Creek | Malabugilmah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Deep Creek vs Malabugilmah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Deep Creek and Malabugilmah differ by $350 a year by car, but $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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Deep Creek carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $23,089 from Deep Creek versus $22,739 from Malabugilmah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,439 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Malabugilmah by $350 a year, $1,800 against $2,150.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Deep Creek against low in Malabugilmah, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Deep Creek cumulative | Malabugilmah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,089 | $22,739 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $71,366 | $70,284 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $122,583 | $120,724 | $1,859 |
| Year 10 | $264,690 | $260,677 | $4,013 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Deep Creek or Malabugilmah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Deep Creek runs $23,089 a year by car and Malabugilmah $22,739, but most of the $350 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 Deep Creek and Malabugilmah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,439 in Deep Creek (Clarence Valley rates (OLG) and $1,439 in Malabugilmah (Clarence Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Deep Creek and $1,300 in Malabugilmah. 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 Deep Creek and Malabugilmah?
Deep Creek 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. Malabugilmah 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 Deep Creek and Malabugilmah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Deep Creek costs a cumulative $264,690 and Malabugilmah costs $260,677 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,013 in favour of Malabugilmah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Deep Creek and Malabugilmah suits you better?
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Sources: Clarence Valley rates (OLG and Clarence Valley 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.