Hampton vs Merritts Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hampton and Merritts Creek are both Toowoomba Regional Council suburbs, sitting 24.1 km and 24.4 km from Toowoomba CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Merritts Creek runs $610 a year cheaper than Hampton, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,993.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,000, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Merritts Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hampton | Merritts Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,444 | $1,444 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,188 | $2,188 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,885 | $5,925 | -$40 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $2,000 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,600 | $1,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,167 | $11,557 | +$610 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,474 | $5,824 | +$650 |
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 | Hampton | Merritts Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,274 | $2,274 | - |
| Unit | $1,870 | $1,870 | - |
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, Hampton vs Merritts Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hampton and Merritts Creek differ by $610 a year by car, but $650 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 $40, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $6,474 from Hampton versus $5,824 from Merritts Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,444 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,188 a year.
- Driving commute favours Hampton by $40 a year, $5,885 against $5,925.
- Building insurance favours Merritts Creek by $650 a year, $2,000 against $2,650.
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 Hampton against low in Merritts Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hampton cumulative | Merritts Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,167 | $11,557 | $610 |
| Year 3 | $37,607 | $35,722 | $1,885 |
| Year 5 | $64,596 | $61,358 | $3,238 |
| Year 10 | $139,481 | $132,488 | $6,993 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hampton or Merritts Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Hampton runs $12,167 a year by car and Merritts Creek $11,557, but most of the $610 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $40. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hampton and Merritts Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,444 in Hampton (Toowoomba Regional Council) and $1,444 in Merritts Creek (Toowoomba Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,188 in Hampton and $2,188 in Merritts Creek. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Hampton and Merritts Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,885 from Hampton and $5,925 from Merritts Creek to Toowoomba CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Hampton and $192 from Merritts Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hampton and Merritts Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hampton costs a cumulative $139,481 and Merritts Creek costs $132,488 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,993 in favour of Merritts Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hampton and Merritts Creek suits you better?
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Sources: Toowoomba Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional 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.