Duns Creek vs Paterson, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Duns Creek (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and Paterson (Dungog rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Newcastle CBD (37.6 km and 41.6 km).
Duns Creek runs $961 a year cheaper than Paterson, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,017.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,000, about $21 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Paterson
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Duns Creek | Paterson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,712 | -$297 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,964 | $6,978 | -$14 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $6,978 | -$4,578 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,700 | $2,350 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,456 | $12,417 | -$961 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,892 | $12,417 | -$5,525 |
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 | Duns Creek | Paterson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,827 | -$485 |
| Unit | $1,909 | $2,369 | -$460 |
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, Duns Creek vs Paterson (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Duns Creek and Paterson differ by $961 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 $311, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Paterson carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $5,525 per year, $6,892 from Duns Creek versus $12,417 from Paterson.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Duns Creek by $297 a year, $1,415 against $1,712.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Duns Creek by $14 a year, $6,964 against $6,978.
- Building insurance favours Duns Creek by $650 a year, $1,700 against $2,350.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in Paterson against medium in Duns Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Duns Creek against medium in Paterson, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Duns Creek cumulative | Paterson cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,456 | $12,417 | $961 |
| Year 3 | $35,409 | $38,380 | $2,971 |
| Year 5 | $60,821 | $65,924 | $5,103 |
| Year 10 | $131,330 | $142,347 | $11,017 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duns Creek or Paterson cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Duns Creek runs $11,456 a year by car and Paterson $12,417, but most of the $961 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $311. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Duns Creek and Paterson?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Duns Creek (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Paterson (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Duns Creek and $1,377 in Paterson. 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 Duns Creek and Paterson?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,964 from Duns Creek and $6,978 from Paterson to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Duns Creek. No daily public transport commute is assumed from Paterson, so it is costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Duns Creek and Paterson?
At 3% annual cost growth, Duns Creek costs a cumulative $131,330 and Paterson costs $142,347 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,017 in favour of Duns Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Duns Creek and Paterson suits you better?
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Sources: Port Stephens rates (OLG and Dungog 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.