Duns Creek vs Tocal, 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 Tocal (Maitland rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Newcastle CBD (37.6 km and 37.6 km).
Duns Creek runs $705 a year cheaper than Tocal, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,082.
Over 10 years, Duns Creek costs about $8,100 less to run than Tocal. That's about $16 a week.
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Tocal
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Duns Creek | Tocal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,970 | -$555 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,964 | $6,964 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,700 | $1,850 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,456 | $12,161 | -$705 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,892 | $7,597 | -$705 |
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 | Tocal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 Tocal (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Duns Creek costs $705 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,082 in favour of Duns Creek.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $555 per year.
On public transport the gap is $705 per year, $6,892 from Duns Creek versus $7,597 from Tocal.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Duns Creek by $555 a year, $1,415 against $1,970.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $6,964 a year.
- Building insurance favours Duns Creek by $150 a year, $1,700 against $1,850.
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 Tocal against medium in Duns Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Duns Creek against medium in Tocal, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Duns Creek cumulative | Tocal cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,456 | $12,161 | $705 |
| Year 3 | $35,409 | $37,588 | $2,179 |
| Year 5 | $60,821 | $64,564 | $3,743 |
| Year 10 | $131,330 | $139,412 | $8,082 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duns Creek or Tocal cheaper to live in?
Duns Creek is cheaper to run by car at $11,456 per year versus $12,161 for Tocal, a difference of $705 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Duns Creek and Tocal?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Duns Creek (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Tocal (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Duns Creek and $1,377 in Tocal. 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 Tocal?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,964 from Duns Creek and $6,964 from Tocal to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Duns Creek and $2,400 from Tocal.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Duns Creek and Tocal?
At 3% annual cost growth, Duns Creek costs a cumulative $131,330 and Tocal costs $139,412 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,082 in favour of Duns Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Duns Creek and Tocal suits you better?
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Sources: Port Stephens rates (OLG and Maitland 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.