East Tamworth vs South Tamworth, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
East Tamworth and South Tamworth are both Tamworth Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 2.3 km and 1.8 km from Tamworth CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Tamworth runs $1,066 a year cheaper than East Tamworth, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,221.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $12,200, about $24 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Tamworth
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | East Tamworth | South Tamworth | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,442 | $1,442 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $781 | $615 | +$166 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $781 | $615 | +$166 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $1,300 | +$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,723 | $4,657 | +$1,066 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,723 | $4,657 | +$1,066 |
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 | East Tamworth | South Tamworth | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, East Tamworth vs South Tamworth (2026-27)
What the numbers show
East Tamworth and South Tamworth differ by $1,066 a year by car, but $900 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 $166, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. East Tamworth carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,066 per year, $5,723 from East Tamworth versus $4,657 from South Tamworth.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,442 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Tamworth by $166 a year, $615 against $781.
- Building insurance favours South Tamworth by $900 a year, $1,300 against $2,200.
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 medium in East Tamworth against low in South Tamworth, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in East Tamworth against low in South Tamworth, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.9 in East Tamworth against 1.7 in South Tamworth, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | East Tamworth cumulative | South Tamworth cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,723 | $4,657 | $1,066 |
| Year 3 | $17,689 | $14,394 | $3,295 |
| Year 5 | $30,384 | $24,725 | $5,659 |
| Year 10 | $65,608 | $53,387 | $12,221 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is East Tamworth or South Tamworth cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. East Tamworth runs $5,723 a year by car and South Tamworth $4,657, but most of the $1,066 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $166. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in East Tamworth and South Tamworth?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,442 in East Tamworth (Tamworth Regional rates (OLG) and $1,442 in South Tamworth (Tamworth Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in East Tamworth and $1,300 in South Tamworth. 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 East Tamworth and South Tamworth?
Annual driving commute costs are $781 from East Tamworth and $615 from South Tamworth to Tamworth CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between East Tamworth and South Tamworth?
At 3% annual cost growth, East Tamworth costs a cumulative $65,608 and South Tamworth costs $53,387 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,221 in favour of South Tamworth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of East Tamworth and South Tamworth suits you better?
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Sources: Tamworth Regional rates (OLG and Tamworth Regional 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.