Jewells vs Tingira Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Jewells and Tingira Heights are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 12.8 km and 13 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tingira Heights runs $502 a year cheaper than Jewells, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,755.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,800, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tingira Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Jewells | Tingira Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,757 | $3,805 | -$48 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,300 | +$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,747 | $8,245 | +$502 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $6,840 | +$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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Jewells | Tingira Heights | 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, Jewells vs Tingira Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jewells and Tingira Heights differ by $502 a year by car, but $550 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 $48, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year. Jewells carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $7,390 from Jewells versus $6,840 from Tingira Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Jewells by $48 a year, $3,757 against $3,805.
- Building insurance favours Tingira Heights by $550 a year, $1,300 against $1,850.
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 Jewells against low in Tingira Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Jewells against medium in Tingira Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Jewells against 1 in Tingira Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Jewells cumulative | Tingira Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,747 | $8,245 | $502 |
| Year 3 | $27,036 | $25,484 | $1,552 |
| Year 5 | $46,439 | $43,774 | $2,665 |
| Year 10 | $100,275 | $94,520 | $5,755 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jewells or Tingira Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Jewells runs $8,747 a year by car and Tingira Heights $8,245, but most of the $502 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $48. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Jewells and Tingira Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Jewells (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Tingira Heights (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Jewells and $1,377 in Tingira Heights. 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 Jewells and Tingira Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,757 from Jewells and $3,805 from Tingira Heights to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Jewells and $2,400 from Tingira Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Jewells and Tingira Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Jewells costs a cumulative $100,275 and Tingira Heights costs $94,520 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,755 in favour of Tingira Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Jewells and Tingira Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.