Kempsey vs Verges 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
Kempsey and Verges Creek are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 41.8 km and 38.6 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kempsey runs $305 a year cheaper than Verges Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,496.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Verges Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kempsey | Verges Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,975 | $6,980 | -$5 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,975 | $6,980 | -$5 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,650 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,117 | $12,422 | -$305 |
| Total (public transport) | $12,117 | $12,422 | -$305 |
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 | Kempsey | Verges 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, Kempsey vs Verges Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kempsey and Verges Creek differ by $305 a year by car, but $300 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 $5, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Verges Creek carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $305 per year, $12,117 from Kempsey versus $12,422 from Verges Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kempsey by $5 a year, $6,975 against $6,980.
- Building insurance favours Kempsey by $300 a year, $2,350 against $2,650.
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 Verges Creek against medium in Kempsey, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kempsey cumulative | Verges Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,117 | $12,422 | $305 |
| Year 3 | $37,452 | $38,395 | $943 |
| Year 5 | $64,331 | $65,950 | $1,619 |
| Year 10 | $138,908 | $142,404 | $3,496 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kempsey or Verges Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kempsey runs $12,117 a year by car and Verges Creek $12,422, but most of the $305 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $5. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kempsey and Verges Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Kempsey (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Verges Creek (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Kempsey and $1,300 in Verges 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 Kempsey and Verges Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,975 from Kempsey and $6,980 from Verges Creek 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 Kempsey and Verges Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kempsey costs a cumulative $138,908 and Verges Creek costs $142,404 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,496 in favour of Kempsey. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kempsey and Verges Creek suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.