Eagleton vs Kings Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Eagleton and Kings Hill are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26.1 km and 23.5 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kings Hill runs $695 a year cheaper than Eagleton, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,968.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Eagleton
Kings Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Eagleton | Kings Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,145 | $5,800 | +$345 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,700 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,987 | $10,292 | +$695 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,242 | $6,892 | +$350 |
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 | Eagleton | Kings Hill | 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, Eagleton vs Kings Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eagleton and Kings Hill differ by $695 a year by car, but $350 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 $345, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Eagleton carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,242 from Eagleton versus $6,892 from Kings Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,415 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kings Hill by $345 a year, $5,800 against $6,145.
- Building insurance favours Kings Hill by $350 a year, $1,700 against $2,050.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Eagleton against medium in Kings Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.8 in Eagleton against 3.8 in Kings Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Eagleton cumulative | Kings Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,987 | $10,292 | $695 |
| Year 3 | $33,960 | $31,812 | $2,148 |
| Year 5 | $58,331 | $54,642 | $3,689 |
| Year 10 | $125,954 | $117,986 | $7,968 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eagleton or Kings Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Eagleton runs $10,987 a year by car and Kings Hill $10,292, but most of the $695 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $345. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Eagleton and Kings Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Eagleton (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Kings Hill (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Eagleton and $1,377 in Kings Hill. 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 Eagleton and Kings Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,145 from Eagleton and $5,800 from Kings Hill to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Eagleton and $2,400 from Kings Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Eagleton and Kings Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Eagleton costs a cumulative $125,954 and Kings Hill costs $117,986 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,968 in favour of Kings Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Eagleton and Kings Hill suits you better?
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: Port Stephens rates (OLG and Port Stephens 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.