Harrington vs Manning Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Harrington and Manning Point are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Manning Point runs $350 a year cheaper than Harrington, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Manning Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Harrington | Manning Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| 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 | $3,150 | $2,800 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,259 | $23,909 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $24,259 | $23,909 | +$350 |
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 | Harrington | Manning Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Harrington vs Manning Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Harrington and Manning Point differ by $350 a year by car, but $350 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 $350 per year. Harrington carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $24,259 from Harrington versus $23,909 from Manning Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Manning Point by $350 a year, $2,800 against $3,150.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Harrington against medium in Manning Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Harrington cumulative | Manning Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,259 | $23,909 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $74,982 | $73,900 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $128,794 | $126,936 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $278,102 | $274,090 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harrington or Manning Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Harrington runs $24,259 a year by car and Manning Point $23,909, but most of the $350 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 Harrington and Manning Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Harrington (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Manning Point (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Harrington and $1,300 in Manning Point. 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 Harrington and Manning Point?
Harrington 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. Manning Point 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 Harrington and Manning Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Harrington costs a cumulative $278,102 and Manning Point costs $274,090 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Manning Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Harrington and Manning Point suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.