Fig Tree Pocket vs Seventeen Mile Rocks: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fig Tree Pocket and Seventeen Mile Rocks are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 9 km and 11 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fig Tree Pocket runs $1,224 a year cheaper than Seventeen Mile Rocks, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $14,032.
Over 10 years, Fig Tree Pocket costs about $14,000 less to run than Seventeen Mile Rocks — the same as paying $14,000 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Fig Tree Pocket
Seventeen Mile Rocks
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fig Tree Pocket | Seventeen Mile Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,791 | $3,315 | -$524 |
| Commute (public transport) | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,800 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,200 | $2,400 | +$800 |
| Total (driving) | $8,741 | $9,965 | -$1,224 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,142 | $6,842 | -$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Fig Tree Pocket | Seventeen Mile Rocks | 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 — Fig Tree Pocket vs Seventeen Mile Rocks (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fig Tree Pocket costs $1,224 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $14,032 in favour of Fig Tree Pocket.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Seventeen Mile Rocks carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $6,142 from Fig Tree Pocket versus $6,842 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
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 Fig Tree Pocket by $524 a year, $2,791 against $3,315.
- Building insurance favours Fig Tree Pocket by $700 a year, $3,100 against $3,800.
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 Fig Tree Pocket against medium in Seventeen Mile Rocks, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in Fig Tree Pocket against 8.9 in Seventeen Mile Rocks, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fig Tree Pocket cumulative | Seventeen Mile Rocks cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,741 | $9,965 | $1,224 |
| Year 3 | $27,018 | $30,801 | $3,783 |
| Year 5 | $46,407 | $52,906 | $6,499 |
| Year 10 | $100,206 | $114,238 | $14,032 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fig Tree Pocket or Seventeen Mile Rocks cheaper to live in?
Fig Tree Pocket is cheaper to run by car at $8,741 per year versus $9,965 for Seventeen Mile Rocks, a difference of $1,224 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fig Tree Pocket and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Fig Tree Pocket (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Seventeen Mile Rocks (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Fig Tree Pocket and $1,900 in Seventeen Mile Rocks. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Fig Tree Pocket and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,791 from Fig Tree Pocket and $3,315 from Seventeen Mile Rocks to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Fig Tree Pocket and $192 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fig Tree Pocket and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fig Tree Pocket costs a cumulative $100,206 and Seventeen Mile Rocks costs $114,238 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $14,032 in favour of Fig Tree Pocket. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fig Tree Pocket and Seventeen Mile Rocks is best to actually live in?
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.
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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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.