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 $1,100 a year cheaper than Dulguigan, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.
Over 10 years, Upper Duroby costs about $12,600 less to run than Dulguigan — the same as paying $12,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Dulguigan
Upper Duroby
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dulguigan | Upper Duroby | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,000 | +$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,399 | $23,299 | +$1,100 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,599 | $7,499 | +$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Upper Duroby costs $1,100 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,610 in favour of Upper Duroby.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Dulguigan carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $8,599 from Dulguigan versus $7,499 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 $1,100 a year, $2,000 against $3,100.
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 | $24,399 | $23,299 | $1,100 |
| Year 3 | $75,415 | $72,015 | $3,400 |
| Year 5 | $129,538 | $123,698 | $5,840 |
| Year 10 | $279,707 | $267,097 | $12,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dulguigan or Upper Duroby cheaper to live in?
Upper Duroby is cheaper to run by car at $23,299 per year versus $24,399 for Dulguigan, a difference of $1,100 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Dulguigan and $2,400 from Upper Duroby.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dulguigan and Upper Duroby?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dulguigan costs a cumulative $279,707 and Upper Duroby costs $267,097 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of Upper Duroby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dulguigan and Upper Duroby 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.