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 $373 a year cheaper than Kindee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,276.
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) | $6,962 | $6,989 | -$27 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,032 | $11,659 | +$373 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,470 | $7,070 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Kindee | Long Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $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
Long Flat costs $373 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,276 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.
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 $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 | $12,032 | $11,659 | $373 |
| Year 3 | $37,190 | $36,037 | $1,153 |
| Year 5 | $63,880 | $61,899 | $1,981 |
| Year 10 | $137,933 | $133,657 | $4,276 |
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 $11,659 per year versus $12,032 for Kindee, a difference of $373 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/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 $6,962 from Kindee and $6,989 from Long Flat to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/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 $137,933 and Long Flat costs $133,657 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,276 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.