Ferodale vs Swan Bay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ferodale and Swan Bay are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.5 km and 29.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $10 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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Swan Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ferodale | Swan Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,306 | $6,516 | -$210 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,850 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,148 | $11,158 | -$10 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,242 | $7,042 | +$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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Ferodale | Swan Bay | 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, Ferodale vs Swan Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ferodale and Swan Bay cost within $10 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $115, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $210 per year. Swan Bay is 29.6 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,242 from Ferodale versus $7,042 from Swan Bay.
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 Ferodale by $210 a year, $6,306 against $6,516.
- Building insurance favours Swan Bay by $200 a year, $1,850 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Ferodale against medium in Swan Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.7 in Ferodale against 2.9 in Swan Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ferodale cumulative | Swan Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,148 | $11,158 | $10 |
| Year 3 | $34,457 | $34,488 | $31 |
| Year 5 | $59,186 | $59,239 | $53 |
| Year 10 | $127,799 | $127,914 | $115 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ferodale or Swan Bay cheaper to live in?
Ferodale is cheaper to run by car at $11,148 per year versus $11,158 for Swan Bay, a difference of $10 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ferodale and Swan Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Ferodale (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Swan Bay (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Ferodale and $1,377 in Swan Bay. 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 Ferodale and Swan Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,306 from Ferodale and $6,516 from Swan Bay to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ferodale and $2,400 from Swan Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ferodale and Swan Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ferodale costs a cumulative $127,799 and Swan Bay costs $127,914 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $115 in favour of Ferodale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ferodale and Swan Bay suits you better?
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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.