Huonbrook vs Upper Wilsons 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
Huonbrook and Upper Wilsons Creek are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Upper Wilsons Creek runs $400 a year cheaper than Huonbrook, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Huonbrook
Upper Wilsons Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Huonbrook | Upper Wilsons Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,549 | $23,149 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,749 | $7,349 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Huonbrook | Upper Wilsons Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 — Huonbrook vs Upper Wilsons Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Upper Wilsons Creek costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Upper Wilsons Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,749 from Huonbrook versus $7,349 from Upper Wilsons Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Upper Wilsons Creek by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Huonbrook against medium in Upper Wilsons Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Huonbrook cumulative | Upper Wilsons Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,549 | $23,149 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $72,788 | $71,551 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $125,025 | $122,901 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $269,963 | $265,377 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huonbrook or Upper Wilsons Creek cheaper to live in?
Upper Wilsons Creek is cheaper to run by car at $23,149 per year versus $23,549 for Huonbrook, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Huonbrook and Upper Wilsons Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Huonbrook (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Upper Wilsons Creek (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Huonbrook and $1,300 in Upper Wilsons 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 Huonbrook and Upper Wilsons Creek?
Huonbrook carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Upper Wilsons Creek carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from Huonbrook and $2,400 from Upper Wilsons Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Huonbrook and Upper Wilsons Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Huonbrook costs a cumulative $269,963 and Upper Wilsons Creek costs $265,377 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Upper Wilsons Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Huonbrook and Upper Wilsons 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: Byron rates (OLG and Byron 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.