Forest Reefs vs Spring Terrace, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Forest Reefs (Blayney rates (OLG) and Spring Terrace (Cabonne rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Orange CBD (18.2 km and 13.8 km).
Spring Terrace runs $817 a year cheaper than Forest Reefs, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,366.
Over 10 years, Spring Terrace costs about $9,400 less to run than Forest Reefs. That's about $18 a week.
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Spring Terrace
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Forest Reefs | Spring Terrace | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $969 | $775 | +$194 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,913 | $3,990 | +$923 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,913 | $3,990 | +$923 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,732 | $7,915 | +$817 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,732 | $7,915 | +$817 |
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 | Forest Reefs | Spring Terrace | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Forest Reefs vs Spring Terrace (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Spring Terrace costs $817 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,366 in favour of Spring Terrace.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $923 per year. Forest Reefs is 18.2 km from Orange CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $817 per year, $8,732 from Forest Reefs versus $7,915 from Spring Terrace.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Spring Terrace by $194 a year, $775 against $969.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Spring Terrace by $923 a year, $3,990 against $4,913.
- Building insurance favours Forest Reefs by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in Spring Terrace against low in Forest Reefs, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Forest Reefs cumulative | Spring Terrace cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,732 | $7,915 | $817 |
| Year 3 | $26,990 | $24,464 | $2,526 |
| Year 5 | $46,359 | $42,022 | $4,337 |
| Year 10 | $100,103 | $90,737 | $9,366 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest Reefs or Spring Terrace cheaper to live in?
Spring Terrace is cheaper to run by car at $7,915 per year versus $8,732 for Forest Reefs, a difference of $817 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Forest Reefs and Spring Terrace?
Annual council rates for a house are $969 in Forest Reefs (Blayney rates (OLG) and $775 in Spring Terrace (Cabonne rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Forest Reefs and $1,300 in Spring Terrace. 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 Forest Reefs and Spring Terrace?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,913 from Forest Reefs and $3,990 from Spring Terrace to Orange CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Forest Reefs and Spring Terrace?
At 3% annual cost growth, Forest Reefs costs a cumulative $100,103 and Spring Terrace costs $90,737 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,366 in favour of Spring Terrace. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Forest Reefs and Spring Terrace suits you better?
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Sources: Blayney rates (OLG and Cabonne 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.