Highgate Hill vs South Brisbane, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Highgate Hill and South Brisbane are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 2.1 km and 1.1 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $101 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 $1,200, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Brisbane
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Highgate Hill | South Brisbane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $715 | $514 | +$201 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $2,150 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $4,800 | $5,500 | -$700 |
| Total (driving) | $5,615 | $5,514 | +$101 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,092 | $5,192 | -$100 |
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 | Highgate Hill | South Brisbane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Highgate Hill vs South Brisbane (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Highgate Hill and South Brisbane differ by $101 a year by car, but $100 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 $201, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $201 per year. Highgate Hill is 2.1 km from Brisbane CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,092 and $5,192 a year, so the $101 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Brisbane by $201 a year, $514 against $715.
- Building insurance favours Highgate Hill by $100 a year, $2,050 against $2,150.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in South Brisbane against low in Highgate Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Highgate Hill cumulative | South Brisbane cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,615 | $5,514 | $101 |
| Year 3 | $17,355 | $17,043 | $312 |
| Year 5 | $29,811 | $29,275 | $536 |
| Year 10 | $64,370 | $63,212 | $1,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Highgate Hill or South Brisbane cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Highgate Hill runs $5,615 a year by car and South Brisbane $5,514, but most of the $101 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $201. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Highgate Hill and South Brisbane?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Highgate Hill (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in South Brisbane (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Highgate Hill and $1,900 in South Brisbane. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Highgate Hill and South Brisbane?
Annual driving commute costs are $715 from Highgate Hill and $514 from South Brisbane to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Highgate Hill and $192 from South Brisbane.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Highgate Hill and South Brisbane?
At 3% annual cost growth, Highgate Hill costs a cumulative $64,370 and South Brisbane costs $63,212 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,158 in favour of South Brisbane. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Highgate Hill and South Brisbane suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane 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.