Hillsborough vs Rosebrook, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hillsborough and Rosebrook are both Maitland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 42.6 km and 40.4 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $221 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 $2,500, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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 →Hillsborough
Rosebrook
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hillsborough | Rosebrook | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,970 | $1,970 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,959 | $6,988 | -$29 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,200 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,756 | $11,535 | +$221 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,197 | $6,947 | +$250 |
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 | Hillsborough | Rosebrook | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Hillsborough vs Rosebrook (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hillsborough and Rosebrook differ by $221 a year by car, but $250 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 $29, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Hillsborough carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,197 from Hillsborough versus $6,947 from Rosebrook.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,970 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Hillsborough by $29 a year, $6,959 against $6,988.
- Building insurance favours Rosebrook by $250 a year, $1,200 against $1,450.
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 Hillsborough against low in Rosebrook, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hillsborough cumulative | Rosebrook cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,756 | $11,535 | $221 |
| Year 3 | $36,337 | $35,654 | $683 |
| Year 5 | $62,414 | $61,241 | $1,173 |
| Year 10 | $134,769 | $132,236 | $2,533 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hillsborough or Rosebrook cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Hillsborough runs $11,756 a year by car and Rosebrook $11,535, but most of the $221 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $29. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hillsborough and Rosebrook?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Hillsborough (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Rosebrook (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Hillsborough and $1,377 in Rosebrook. 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 Hillsborough and Rosebrook?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,959 from Hillsborough and $6,988 from Rosebrook to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hillsborough and $2,400 from Rosebrook.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hillsborough and Rosebrook?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hillsborough costs a cumulative $134,769 and Rosebrook costs $132,236 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,533 in favour of Rosebrook. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hillsborough and Rosebrook suits you better?
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Sources: Maitland rates (OLG and Maitland 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.