Highgate Hill vs St Lucia, 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 St Lucia are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 2.1 km and 3.9 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Highgate Hill runs $1,132 a year cheaper than St Lucia, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,977.
Over 10 years, Highgate Hill costs about $13,000 less to run than St Lucia. That's about $25 a week.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Brisbane suburbs that fit your budget →Highgate Hill
St Lucia
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Highgate Hill | St Lucia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $715 | $1,297 | -$582 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $2,600 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $4,800 | $3,200 | +$1,600 |
| Total (driving) | $5,615 | $6,747 | -$1,132 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,092 | $5,642 | -$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 | Highgate Hill | St Lucia | 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 St Lucia (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Highgate Hill costs $1,132 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,977 in favour of Highgate Hill.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $582 per year. St Lucia is 3.9 km from Brisbane CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $5,092 from Highgate Hill versus $5,642 from St Lucia.
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 Highgate Hill by $582 a year, $715 against $1,297.
- Building insurance favours Highgate Hill by $550 a year, $2,050 against $2,600.
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 high in St Lucia against low in Highgate Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in St Lucia against low in Highgate Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Highgate Hill cumulative | St Lucia cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,615 | $6,747 | $1,132 |
| Year 3 | $17,355 | $20,854 | $3,499 |
| Year 5 | $29,811 | $35,821 | $6,010 |
| Year 10 | $64,370 | $77,347 | $12,977 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Highgate Hill or St Lucia cheaper to live in?
Highgate Hill is cheaper to run by car at $5,615 per year versus $6,747 for St Lucia, a difference of $1,132 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Highgate Hill and St Lucia?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Highgate Hill (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in St Lucia (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Highgate Hill and $1,900 in St Lucia. 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 St Lucia?
Annual driving commute costs are $715 from Highgate Hill and $1,297 from St Lucia to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Highgate Hill and $192 from St Lucia.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Highgate Hill and St Lucia?
At 3% annual cost growth, Highgate Hill costs a cumulative $64,370 and St Lucia costs $77,347 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,977 in favour of Highgate Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Highgate Hill and St Lucia suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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.