Goonengerry vs Upper Coopers Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Goonengerry and Upper Coopers Creek are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 622 km and 621.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Upper Coopers Creek runs $400 a year cheaper than Goonengerry, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Goonengerry
Upper Coopers Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Goonengerry | Upper Coopers Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,949 | $22,549 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,749 | $7,349 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Goonengerry | Upper Coopers Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,098 | $2,098 | - |
| Unit | $1,679 | $1,679 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Goonengerry vs Upper Coopers Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Upper Coopers Creek costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Upper Coopers Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,749 from Goonengerry versus $7,349 from Upper Coopers Creek.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Goonengerry cumulative | Upper Coopers Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,949 | $22,549 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,933 | $69,697 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $121,839 | $119,716 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $263,085 | $258,499 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Goonengerry or Upper Coopers Creek cheaper to live in?
Upper Coopers Creek is cheaper to run by car at $22,549 per year versus $22,949 for Goonengerry, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Goonengerry and Upper Coopers Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Goonengerry (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Upper Coopers Creek (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Goonengerry and $1,300 in Upper Coopers Creek. 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 Goonengerry and Upper Coopers Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Goonengerry and $17,600 from Upper Coopers Creek to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Goonengerry and $2,400 from Upper Coopers Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Goonengerry and Upper Coopers Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Goonengerry costs a cumulative $263,085 and Upper Coopers Creek costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Upper Coopers Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Goonengerry and Upper Coopers Creek 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.