Fig Tree Pocket vs Sherwood, 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 Sherwood are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 9 km and 8 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Sherwood runs $925 a year cheaper than Fig Tree Pocket, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,604.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,600, about $20 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Sherwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fig Tree Pocket | Sherwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,791 | $2,516 | +$275 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,500 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,200 | $3,200 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,791 | $6,866 | +$925 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,192 | $4,542 | +$650 |
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 | Fig Tree Pocket | Sherwood | 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 Sherwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fig Tree Pocket and Sherwood differ by $925 a year by car, but $650 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 $275, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Fig Tree Pocket carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $5,192 from Fig Tree Pocket versus $4,542 from Sherwood.
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 Sherwood by $275 a year, $2,516 against $2,791.
- Building insurance favours Sherwood by $650 a year, $1,500 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Fig Tree Pocket against low in Sherwood, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Fig Tree Pocket against low in Sherwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fig Tree Pocket cumulative | Sherwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,791 | $6,866 | $925 |
| Year 3 | $24,081 | $21,222 | $2,859 |
| Year 5 | $41,363 | $36,453 | $4,910 |
| Year 10 | $89,315 | $78,711 | $10,604 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fig Tree Pocket or Sherwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fig Tree Pocket runs $7,791 a year by car and Sherwood $6,866, but most of the $925 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $275. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fig Tree Pocket and Sherwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Fig Tree Pocket (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Sherwood (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Fig Tree Pocket and $1,900 in Sherwood. 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 Sherwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,791 from Fig Tree Pocket and $2,516 from Sherwood to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Fig Tree Pocket and $192 from Sherwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fig Tree Pocket and Sherwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fig Tree Pocket costs a cumulative $89,315 and Sherwood costs $78,711 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,604 in favour of Sherwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fig Tree Pocket and Sherwood suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.