Gladstone vs Smithtown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gladstone and Smithtown are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 46.3 km and 46.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $255 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 $2,900, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Smithtown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gladstone | Smithtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,815 | $6,810 | +$5 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,815 | $6,810 | +$5 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,957 | $11,702 | +$255 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,957 | $11,702 | +$255 |
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 | Gladstone | Smithtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Gladstone vs Smithtown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gladstone and Smithtown differ by $255 a year by car, but $250 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 $5, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Gladstone carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $255 per year, $11,957 from Gladstone versus $11,702 from Smithtown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Smithtown by $5 a year, $6,810 against $6,815.
- Building insurance favours Smithtown by $250 a year, $2,100 against $2,350.
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 medium in Gladstone against low in Smithtown, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.1 in Gladstone against 3.1 in Smithtown, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gladstone cumulative | Smithtown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,957 | $11,702 | $255 |
| Year 3 | $36,958 | $36,170 | $788 |
| Year 5 | $63,481 | $62,128 | $1,353 |
| Year 10 | $137,074 | $134,150 | $2,924 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gladstone or Smithtown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gladstone runs $11,957 a year by car and Smithtown $11,702, but most of the $255 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $5. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gladstone and Smithtown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Gladstone (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Smithtown (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Gladstone and $1,300 in Smithtown. 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 Gladstone and Smithtown?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,815 from Gladstone and $6,810 from Smithtown to Port Macquarie 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 Gladstone and Smithtown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gladstone costs a cumulative $137,074 and Smithtown costs $134,150 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,924 in favour of Smithtown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gladstone and Smithtown suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.