Kindee vs Long Flat, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kindee and Long Flat are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 42.5 km and 40 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Long Flat runs $323 a year cheaper than Kindee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,702.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,700, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Long Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kindee | Long Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,962 | $6,989 | -$27 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,962 | $6,989 | -$27 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,800 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,782 | $11,459 | +$323 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,782 | $11,459 | +$323 |
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 | Kindee | Long Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Kindee vs Long Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kindee and Long Flat differ by $323 a year by car, but $350 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 $27, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $323 per year, $11,782 from Kindee versus $11,459 from Long Flat.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kindee by $27 a year, $6,962 against $6,989.
- Building insurance favours Long Flat by $350 a year, $1,800 against $2,150.
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 Kindee against medium in Long Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kindee cumulative | Long Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,782 | $11,459 | $323 |
| Year 3 | $36,417 | $35,419 | $998 |
| Year 5 | $62,552 | $60,837 | $1,715 |
| Year 10 | $135,067 | $131,365 | $3,702 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kindee or Long Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kindee runs $11,782 a year by car and Long Flat $11,459, but most of the $323 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $27. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kindee and Long Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Kindee (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Long Flat (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Kindee and $1,300 in Long Flat. 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 Kindee and Long Flat?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,962 from Kindee and $6,989 from Long Flat 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 Kindee and Long Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kindee costs a cumulative $135,067 and Long Flat costs $131,365 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,702 in favour of Long Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kindee and Long Flat suits you better?
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Sources: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings 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.