Earlville vs Mooroobool, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Earlville and Mooroobool are both Cairns Regional Council suburbs, sitting 5.9 km and 5.5 km from Cairns CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mooroobool runs $370 a year cheaper than Earlville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,242.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,200, about $8 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 →Earlville
Mooroobool
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Earlville | Mooroobool | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,166 | $1,166 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,765 | $1,765 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,910 | $1,790 | +$120 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,700 | $3,450 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,200 | $2,000 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $8,541 | $8,171 | +$370 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,823 | $6,573 | +$250 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Earlville | Mooroobool | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,373 | $2,373 | - |
| Unit | $1,945 | $1,945 | - |
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, Earlville vs Mooroobool (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Earlville and Mooroobool differ by $370 a year by car, but $250 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 $120, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $6,823 from Earlville versus $6,573 from Mooroobool.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,166 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,765 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mooroobool by $120 a year, $1,790 against $1,910.
- Building insurance favours Mooroobool by $250 a year, $3,450 against $3,700.
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.
The catchment state school scores 2.5 in Earlville against 1 in Mooroobool, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Earlville cumulative | Mooroobool cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,541 | $8,171 | $370 |
| Year 3 | $26,399 | $25,256 | $1,143 |
| Year 5 | $45,345 | $43,381 | $1,964 |
| Year 10 | $97,913 | $93,671 | $4,242 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Earlville or Mooroobool cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Earlville runs $8,541 a year by car and Mooroobool $8,171, but most of the $370 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $120. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Earlville and Mooroobool?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,166 in Earlville (Cairns Regional Council) and $1,166 in Mooroobool (Cairns Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,765 in Earlville and $1,765 in Mooroobool. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Earlville and Mooroobool?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,910 from Earlville and $1,790 from Mooroobool to Cairns CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Earlville and $192 from Mooroobool.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Earlville and Mooroobool?
At 3% annual cost growth, Earlville costs a cumulative $97,913 and Mooroobool costs $93,671 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,242 in favour of Mooroobool. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Earlville and Mooroobool 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: Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Regional Council 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.