Kippa-Ring vs Scarborough, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kippa-Ring and Scarborough are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 27.9 km and 30.7 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Scarborough runs $538 a year cheaper than Kippa-Ring, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,168.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,200, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Scarborough
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kippa-Ring | Scarborough | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,349 | $6,611 | -$262 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $1,500 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,400 | $2,800 | -$400 |
| Total (driving) | $12,102 | $11,564 | +$538 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,945 | $5,145 | +$800 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Kippa-Ring | Scarborough | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Kippa-Ring vs Scarborough (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kippa-Ring and Scarborough differ by $538 a year by car, but $800 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 $262, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $5,945 from Kippa-Ring versus $5,145 from Scarborough.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kippa-Ring by $262 a year, $6,349 against $6,611.
- Building insurance favours Scarborough by $800 a year, $1,500 against $2,300.
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 Kippa-Ring against low in Scarborough, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Scarborough against 4.8 in Kippa-Ring, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kippa-Ring cumulative | Scarborough cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,102 | $11,564 | $538 |
| Year 3 | $37,406 | $35,743 | $1,663 |
| Year 5 | $64,251 | $61,395 | $2,856 |
| Year 10 | $138,736 | $132,568 | $6,168 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kippa-Ring or Scarborough cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kippa-Ring runs $12,102 a year by car and Scarborough $11,564, but most of the $538 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $262. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kippa-Ring and Scarborough?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Kippa-Ring (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Scarborough (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Kippa-Ring and $2,144 in Scarborough. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Kippa-Ring and Scarborough?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,349 from Kippa-Ring and $6,611 from Scarborough to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Kippa-Ring and $192 from Scarborough.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kippa-Ring and Scarborough?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kippa-Ring costs a cumulative $138,736 and Scarborough costs $132,568 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,168 in favour of Scarborough. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kippa-Ring and Scarborough suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council 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.