Huntingdon vs Hyndmans Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Huntingdon and Hyndmans Creek are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.8 km and 29.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Huntingdon runs $459 a year cheaper than Hyndmans Creek, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,262.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Huntingdon
Hyndmans Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Huntingdon | Hyndmans Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,980 | $6,489 | -$509 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $2,400 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,100 | $11,559 | -$459 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,520 | $7,470 | +$50 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Huntingdon | Hyndmans Creek | 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 — Huntingdon vs Hyndmans Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Huntingdon costs $459 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,262 in favour of Huntingdon.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $509 per year. Hyndmans Creek is 29.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,520 and $7,470 a year, so the $459 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Huntingdon by $509 a year, $5,980 against $6,489.
- Building insurance favours Hyndmans Creek by $50 a year, $2,400 against $2,450.
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 Huntingdon against low in Hyndmans Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Hyndmans Creek against medium in Huntingdon, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Huntingdon cumulative | Hyndmans Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,100 | $11,559 | $459 |
| Year 3 | $34,309 | $35,728 | $1,419 |
| Year 5 | $58,931 | $61,368 | $2,437 |
| Year 10 | $127,249 | $132,511 | $5,262 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huntingdon or Hyndmans Creek cheaper to live in?
Huntingdon is cheaper to run by car at $11,100 per year versus $11,559 for Hyndmans Creek, a difference of $459 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Huntingdon and Hyndmans Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Huntingdon (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Hyndmans Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Huntingdon and $1,300 in Hyndmans Creek. 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 Huntingdon and Hyndmans Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,980 from Huntingdon and $6,489 from Hyndmans Creek to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Huntingdon and $2,400 from Hyndmans Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Huntingdon and Hyndmans Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Huntingdon costs a cumulative $127,249 and Hyndmans Creek costs $132,511 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,262 in favour of Huntingdon. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Huntingdon and Hyndmans Creek is best to actually live in?
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: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.