Kariong vs Tascott, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kariong and Tascott are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 46.7 km and 47.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kariong runs $380 a year cheaper than Tascott, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,356.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,400, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tascott
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kariong | Tascott | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,793 | $6,723 | +$70 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,000 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,097 | $11,477 | -$380 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,704 | $7,154 | -$450 |
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 | Kariong | Tascott | 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, Kariong vs Tascott (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kariong and Tascott differ by $380 a year by car, but $450 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 $70, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Tascott carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,704 from Kariong versus $7,154 from Tascott.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Tascott by $70 a year, $6,723 against $6,793.
- Building insurance favours Kariong by $450 a year, $1,550 against $2,000.
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 high in Tascott against low in Kariong, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Kariong against medium in Tascott, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.5 in Tascott against 6.2 in Kariong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kariong cumulative | Tascott cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,097 | $11,477 | $380 |
| Year 3 | $34,300 | $35,474 | $1,174 |
| Year 5 | $58,915 | $60,933 | $2,018 |
| Year 10 | $127,215 | $131,571 | $4,356 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kariong or Tascott cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kariong runs $11,097 a year by car and Tascott $11,477, but most of the $380 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $70. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kariong and Tascott?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Kariong (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Tascott (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Kariong and $1,300 in Tascott. 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 Kariong and Tascott?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,793 from Kariong and $6,723 from Tascott to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kariong and $2,400 from Tascott.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kariong and Tascott?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kariong costs a cumulative $127,215 and Tascott costs $131,571 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,356 in favour of Kariong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kariong and Tascott suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.