Gulliver vs Mundingburra, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gulliver and Mundingburra are both Townsville City Council suburbs, sitting 5.2 km and 5.3 km from Townsville CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mundingburra runs $520 a year cheaper than Gulliver, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,961.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,000, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mundingburra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gulliver | Mundingburra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,343 | $1,343 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,099 | $2,099 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,699 | $1,729 | -$30 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $4,150 | $3,600 | +$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,200 | $2,200 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,291 | $8,771 | +$520 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,784 | $7,234 | +$550 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Gulliver | Mundingburra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,373 | $2,373 | - |
| Unit | $1,945 | $1,945 | - |
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, Gulliver vs Mundingburra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gulliver and Mundingburra differ by $520 a year by car, but $550 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 $30, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $7,784 from Gulliver versus $7,234 from Mundingburra.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,343 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,099 a year.
- Driving commute favours Gulliver by $30 a year, $1,699 against $1,729.
- Building insurance favours Mundingburra by $550 a year, $3,600 against $4,150.
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.
The catchment state school scores 5.1 in Mundingburra against 3.6 in Gulliver, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gulliver cumulative | Mundingburra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,291 | $8,771 | $520 |
| Year 3 | $28,718 | $27,110 | $1,608 |
| Year 5 | $49,327 | $46,566 | $2,761 |
| Year 10 | $106,511 | $100,550 | $5,961 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gulliver or Mundingburra cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gulliver runs $9,291 a year by car and Mundingburra $8,771, but most of the $520 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $30. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gulliver and Mundingburra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,343 in Gulliver (Townsville City Council) and $1,343 in Mundingburra (Townsville City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,099 in Gulliver and $2,099 in Mundingburra. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Gulliver and Mundingburra?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,699 from Gulliver and $1,729 from Mundingburra to Townsville CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Gulliver and $192 from Mundingburra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gulliver and Mundingburra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gulliver costs a cumulative $106,511 and Mundingburra costs $100,550 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,961 in favour of Mundingburra. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gulliver and Mundingburra suits you better?
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Sources: Townsville City Council and Townsville City Council 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.