Kindee vs Long Flat: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kindee and Long Flat are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 297.7 km and 296.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Long Flat runs $400 a year cheaper than Kindee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Kindee
Long Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kindee | Long Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,670 | $22,270 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,470 | $7,070 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Kindee | Long Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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
Long Flat costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Long Flat.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,470 from Kindee versus $7,070 from Long Flat.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kindee cumulative | Long Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,670 | $22,270 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,071 | $68,834 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $120,358 | $118,234 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $259,886 | $255,301 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kindee or Long Flat cheaper to live in?
Long Flat is cheaper to run by car at $22,270 per year versus $22,670 for Kindee, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. 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 $17,600 from Kindee and $17,600 from Long Flat to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kindee and $2,400 from Long Flat.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kindee and Long Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kindee costs a cumulative $259,886 and Long Flat costs $255,301 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Long Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kindee and Long Flat is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.