Dugandan vs Frenches Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dugandan and Frenches Creek are both Scenic Rim Regional Council suburbs, sitting 31.3 km and 35.2 km from Beaudesert CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dugandan runs $929 a year cheaper than Frenches Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,650.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,700, about $20 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Frenches Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dugandan | Frenches Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,659 | $6,888 | -$229 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,659 | $6,888 | -$229 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,650 | $2,350 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,400 | +$100 |
| Total (driving) | $11,585 | $12,514 | -$929 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,585 | $12,514 | -$929 |
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 | Dugandan | Frenches 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, Dugandan vs Frenches Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dugandan and Frenches Creek differ by $929 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 $229, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year.
On public transport the gap is $929 per year, $11,585 from Dugandan versus $12,514 from Frenches Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Dugandan by $229 a year, $6,659 against $6,888.
- Building insurance favours Dugandan by $700 a year, $1,650 against $2,350.
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 Frenches Creek against medium in Dugandan, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dugandan cumulative | Frenches Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,585 | $12,514 | $929 |
| Year 3 | $35,808 | $38,680 | $2,872 |
| Year 5 | $61,506 | $66,439 | $4,933 |
| Year 10 | $132,809 | $143,459 | $10,650 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dugandan or Frenches Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dugandan runs $11,585 a year by car and Frenches Creek $12,514, but most of the $929 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $229. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dugandan and Frenches Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Dugandan (Scenic Rim Regional Council) and $1,376 in Frenches Creek (Scenic Rim Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Dugandan and $1,900 in Frenches Creek. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Dugandan and Frenches Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,659 from Dugandan and $6,888 from Frenches Creek to Beaudesert CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dugandan and Frenches Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dugandan costs a cumulative $132,809 and Frenches Creek costs $143,459 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,650 in favour of Dugandan. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dugandan and Frenches Creek suits you better?
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Sources: Scenic Rim Regional Council and Scenic Rim 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.