Fassifern vs Woodrising, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fassifern and Woodrising are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.6 km and 17.4 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $263 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 $3,000, about $6 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 →Fassifern
Woodrising
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fassifern | Woodrising | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,171 | $4,758 | +$413 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,000 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,161 | $9,898 | +$263 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,540 | -$150 |
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 | Fassifern | Woodrising | 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, Fassifern vs Woodrising (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fassifern and Woodrising differ by $263 a year by car, but $150 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 $413, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $413 per year. Fassifern is 19.6 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,390 and $7,540 a year, so the $263 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Woodrising by $413 a year, $4,758 against $5,171.
- Building insurance favours Fassifern by $150 a year, $1,850 against $2,000.
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 Woodrising against medium in Fassifern, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Fassifern against medium in Woodrising, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fassifern cumulative | Woodrising cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,161 | $9,898 | $263 |
| Year 3 | $31,407 | $30,594 | $813 |
| Year 5 | $53,946 | $52,550 | $1,396 |
| Year 10 | $116,484 | $113,469 | $3,015 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fassifern or Woodrising cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fassifern runs $10,161 a year by car and Woodrising $9,898, but most of the $263 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $413. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fassifern and Woodrising?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Fassifern (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Woodrising (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Fassifern and $1,377 in Woodrising. 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 Fassifern and Woodrising?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,171 from Fassifern and $4,758 from Woodrising to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fassifern and $2,400 from Woodrising.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fassifern and Woodrising?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fassifern costs a cumulative $116,484 and Woodrising costs $113,469 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,015 in favour of Woodrising. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fassifern and Woodrising suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.