Karawatha vs Logan Central, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Karawatha (Brisbane City Council) and Logan Central (Logan City Council) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Brisbane CBD (19.2 km and 21 km).
Karawatha runs $711 a year cheaper than Logan Central, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,151.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,200, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Logan Central
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Karawatha | Logan Central | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $1,699 | -$749 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $2,149 | -$249 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,099 | $5,412 | -$313 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,550 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,400 | $2,800 | -$400 |
| Total (driving) | $10,099 | $10,810 | -$711 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,192 | $5,590 | -$398 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Karawatha | Logan Central | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Karawatha vs Logan Central (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Karawatha and Logan Central differ by $711 a year by car, but $600 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 $1,311, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $749 per year.
On public transport the gap is $398 per year, $5,192 from Karawatha versus $5,590 from Logan Central.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Karawatha by $749 a year, $950 against $1,699.
- Water and sewerage favours Karawatha by $249 a year, $1,900 against $2,149.
- Driving commute favours Karawatha by $313 a year, $5,099 against $5,412.
- Building insurance favours Logan Central by $600 a year, $1,550 against $2,150.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For QLD that figure is the minimum residential general rate for an owner-occupied principal place of residence, a floor rather than a typical bill.
Fire risk is rated high in Karawatha against medium in Logan Central, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Karawatha cumulative | Logan Central cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,099 | $10,810 | $711 |
| Year 3 | $31,215 | $33,413 | $2,198 |
| Year 5 | $53,617 | $57,392 | $3,775 |
| Year 10 | $115,774 | $123,925 | $8,151 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Karawatha or Logan Central cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Karawatha runs $10,099 a year by car and Logan Central $10,810, but most of the $711 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $1,311. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Karawatha and Logan Central?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Karawatha (Brisbane City Council) and $1,699 in Logan Central (Logan City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Karawatha and $2,149 in Logan Central. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Karawatha and Logan Central?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,099 from Karawatha and $5,412 from Logan Central to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Karawatha and $192 from Logan Central.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Karawatha and Logan Central?
At 3% annual cost growth, Karawatha costs a cumulative $115,774 and Logan Central costs $123,925 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,151 in favour of Karawatha. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Karawatha and Logan Central suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Logan City Council 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.