Draper vs Eatons Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Draper and Eatons Hill are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 17.5 km and 16.8 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Eatons Hill runs $790 a year cheaper than Draper, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,057.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,100, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Eatons Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Draper | Eatons Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,778 | $4,638 | +$140 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,700 | $2,050 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,800 | $2,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,931 | $10,141 | +$790 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,345 | $5,695 | +$650 |
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 | Draper | Eatons Hill | 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, Draper vs Eatons Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Draper and Eatons Hill differ by $790 a year by car, but $650 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 $140, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Draper carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $6,345 from Draper versus $5,695 from Eatons Hill.
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 Eatons Hill by $140 a year, $4,638 against $4,778.
- Building insurance favours Eatons Hill by $650 a year, $2,050 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 Draper against low in Eatons Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Draper against 7.5 in Eatons Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Draper cumulative | Eatons Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,931 | $10,141 | $790 |
| Year 3 | $33,787 | $31,345 | $2,442 |
| Year 5 | $58,034 | $53,840 | $4,194 |
| Year 10 | $125,312 | $116,255 | $9,057 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Draper or Eatons Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Draper runs $10,931 a year by car and Eatons Hill $10,141, but most of the $790 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $140. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Draper and Eatons Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Draper (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Eatons Hill (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Draper and $2,144 in Eatons Hill. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Draper and Eatons Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,778 from Draper and $4,638 from Eatons Hill to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Draper and $192 from Eatons Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Draper and Eatons Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Draper costs a cumulative $125,312 and Eatons Hill costs $116,255 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,057 in favour of Eatons Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Draper and Eatons Hill suits you better?
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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.