Gladstone vs Summer Island, 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 Summer Island are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Gladstone runs $11,385 a year cheaper than Summer Island, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $130,516.
Over 10 years, Gladstone costs about $130,500 less to run than Summer Island. That's about $251 a week.
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Summer Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gladstone | Summer Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,815 | $18,200 | -$11,385 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,815 | $18,200 | -$11,385 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,350 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,957 | $23,342 | -$11,385 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,957 | $23,342 | -$11,385 |
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 | Summer Island | 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 Summer Island (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gladstone costs $11,385 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $130,516 in favour of Gladstone.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,385 per year. Summer Island is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,385 per year, $11,957 from Gladstone versus $23,342 from Summer Island.
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 Gladstone by $11,385 a year, $6,815 against $18,200.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,350 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 6.1 in Gladstone against 4.8 in Summer Island, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gladstone cumulative | Summer Island cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,957 | $23,342 | $11,385 |
| Year 3 | $36,958 | $72,148 | $35,190 |
| Year 5 | $63,481 | $123,926 | $60,445 |
| Year 10 | $137,074 | $267,590 | $130,516 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gladstone or Summer Island cheaper to live in?
Gladstone is cheaper to run by car at $11,957 per year versus $23,342 for Summer Island, a difference of $11,385 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gladstone and Summer Island?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Gladstone (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Summer Island (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Gladstone and $1,300 in Summer Island. 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 Summer Island?
Gladstone is $6,815 a year to drive to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Summer Island carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. 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 Summer Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gladstone costs a cumulative $137,074 and Summer Island costs $267,590 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $130,516 in favour of Gladstone. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gladstone and Summer Island 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.