Dulguigan vs Upper Duroby, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dulguigan and Upper Duroby are both Tweed rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Upper Duroby runs $850 a year cheaper than Dulguigan, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,744.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,700, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Upper Duroby
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dulguigan | Upper Duroby | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| 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 | $2,400 | $1,550 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,699 | $22,849 | +$850 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,699 | $22,849 | +$850 |
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 | Dulguigan | Upper Duroby | 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, Dulguigan vs Upper Duroby (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dulguigan and Upper Duroby differ by $850 a year by car, but $850 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 $850 per year. Dulguigan carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $23,699 from Dulguigan versus $22,849 from Upper Duroby.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,799 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Upper Duroby by $850 a year, $1,550 against $2,400.
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 high in Dulguigan against low in Upper Duroby, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dulguigan cumulative | Upper Duroby cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,699 | $22,849 | $850 |
| Year 3 | $73,251 | $70,624 | $2,627 |
| Year 5 | $125,821 | $121,308 | $4,513 |
| Year 10 | $271,682 | $261,938 | $9,744 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dulguigan or Upper Duroby cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dulguigan runs $23,699 a year by car and Upper Duroby $22,849, but most of the $850 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 Dulguigan and Upper Duroby?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,799 in Dulguigan (Tweed rates (OLG) and $1,799 in Upper Duroby (Tweed rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Dulguigan and $1,300 in Upper Duroby. 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 Dulguigan and Upper Duroby?
Dulguigan 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. Upper Duroby 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 Dulguigan and Upper Duroby?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dulguigan costs a cumulative $271,682 and Upper Duroby costs $261,938 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,744 in favour of Upper Duroby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dulguigan and Upper Duroby suits you better?
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Sources: Tweed rates (OLG and Tweed 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.