Grafton vs Great Marlow, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Grafton and Great Marlow are both Clarence Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $250 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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Great Marlow
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Grafton | Great Marlow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,439 | $1,439 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,350 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,039 | $23,289 | -$250 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,039 | $23,289 | -$250 |
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 | Grafton | Great Marlow | 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, Grafton vs Great Marlow (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grafton and Great Marlow differ by $250 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Great Marlow carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $23,039 from Grafton versus $23,289 from Great Marlow.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,439 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Grafton 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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated medium in Great Marlow against low in Grafton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Grafton cumulative | Great Marlow cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,039 | $23,289 | $250 |
| Year 3 | $71,211 | $71,984 | $773 |
| Year 5 | $122,317 | $123,644 | $1,327 |
| Year 10 | $264,116 | $266,982 | $2,866 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grafton or Great Marlow cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Grafton runs $23,039 a year by car and Great Marlow $23,289, but most of the $250 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Grafton and Great Marlow?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,439 in Grafton (Clarence Valley rates (OLG) and $1,439 in Great Marlow (Clarence Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Grafton and $1,300 in Great Marlow. 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 Grafton and Great Marlow?
Grafton 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. Great Marlow 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 Grafton and Great Marlow?
At 3% annual cost growth, Grafton costs a cumulative $264,116 and Great Marlow costs $266,982 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,866 in favour of Grafton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Grafton and Great Marlow suits you better?
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Sources: Clarence Valley rates (OLG and Clarence Valley 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.