Huntingdon vs Rosewood, 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 Rosewood are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.8 km and 21.9 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $72 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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 →Huntingdon
Rosewood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Huntingdon | Rosewood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,980 | $5,558 | +$422 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,980 | $5,558 | +$422 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $2,550 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,850 | $10,778 | +$72 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,850 | $10,778 | +$72 |
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 | Huntingdon | Rosewood | 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 Rosewood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Huntingdon and Rosewood cost within $72 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $825, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $422 per year. Huntingdon is 24.8 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, $10,850 and $10,778 a year, so the $72 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 Rosewood by $422 a year, $5,558 against $5,980.
- Building insurance favours Huntingdon by $350 a year, $2,200 against $2,550.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Rosewood against medium in Huntingdon, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5 in Rosewood against 2 in Huntingdon, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Huntingdon cumulative | Rosewood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,850 | $10,778 | $72 |
| Year 3 | $33,536 | $33,314 | $222 |
| Year 5 | $57,604 | $57,222 | $382 |
| Year 10 | $124,383 | $123,558 | $825 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huntingdon or Rosewood cheaper to live in?
Rosewood is cheaper to run by car at $10,778 per year versus $10,850 for Huntingdon, a difference of $72 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Huntingdon and Rosewood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Huntingdon (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Rosewood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Huntingdon and $1,300 in Rosewood. 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 Rosewood?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,980 from Huntingdon and $5,558 from Rosewood to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Huntingdon and Rosewood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Huntingdon costs a cumulative $124,383 and Rosewood costs $123,558 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $825 in favour of Rosewood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Huntingdon and Rosewood 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.
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.