Ellen Grove vs Forest Lake, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ellen Grove and Forest Lake are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 18.1 km and 17.9 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $239 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,700, about $5 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 → Neither quite right? Find the Brisbane suburbs that fit your budget →Ellen Grove
Forest Lake
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ellen Grove | Forest Lake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $4,855 | +$39 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,950 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,500 | $2,800 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $9,894 | $9,655 | +$239 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,192 | $4,992 | +$200 |
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 | Ellen Grove | Forest Lake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Ellen Grove vs Forest Lake (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ellen Grove and Forest Lake differ by $239 a year by car, but $200 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 $39, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $5,192 from Ellen Grove versus $4,992 from Forest Lake.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Forest Lake by $39 a year, $4,855 against $4,894.
- Building insurance favours Forest Lake by $200 a year, $1,950 against $2,150.
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 6.8 in Forest Lake against 3.6 in Ellen Grove, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ellen Grove cumulative | Forest Lake cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,894 | $9,655 | $239 |
| Year 3 | $30,581 | $29,843 | $738 |
| Year 5 | $52,529 | $51,260 | $1,269 |
| Year 10 | $113,424 | $110,684 | $2,740 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ellen Grove or Forest Lake cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ellen Grove runs $9,894 a year by car and Forest Lake $9,655, but most of the $239 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $39. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ellen Grove and Forest Lake?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Ellen Grove (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Forest Lake (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Ellen Grove and $1,900 in Forest Lake. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Ellen Grove and Forest Lake?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,894 from Ellen Grove and $4,855 from Forest Lake to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Ellen Grove and $192 from Forest Lake.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ellen Grove and Forest Lake?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ellen Grove costs a cumulative $113,424 and Forest Lake costs $110,684 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,740 in favour of Forest Lake. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ellen Grove and Forest Lake 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: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City 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.