Kulgun vs Roadvale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kulgun and Roadvale are both Scenic Rim Regional Council suburbs, sitting 31 km and 28.8 km from Beaudesert CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Roadvale runs $644 a year cheaper than Kulgun, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,383.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,400, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Roadvale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kulgun | Roadvale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,635 | $6,441 | +$194 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,635 | $6,441 | +$194 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,900 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,300 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $12,261 | $11,617 | +$644 |
| Total (public transport) | $12,261 | $11,617 | +$644 |
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 | Kulgun | Roadvale | 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, Kulgun vs Roadvale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kulgun and Roadvale differ by $644 a year by car, but $450 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 $194, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year.
On public transport the gap is $644 per year, $12,261 from Kulgun versus $11,617 from Roadvale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Roadvale by $194 a year, $6,441 against $6,635.
- Building insurance favours Roadvale by $450 a year, $1,900 against $2,350.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kulgun cumulative | Roadvale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,261 | $11,617 | $644 |
| Year 3 | $37,898 | $35,907 | $1,991 |
| Year 5 | $65,095 | $61,676 | $3,419 |
| Year 10 | $140,559 | $133,176 | $7,383 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kulgun or Roadvale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kulgun runs $12,261 a year by car and Roadvale $11,617, but most of the $644 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $194. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kulgun and Roadvale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Kulgun (Scenic Rim Regional Council) and $1,376 in Roadvale (Scenic Rim Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Kulgun and $1,900 in Roadvale. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Kulgun and Roadvale?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,635 from Kulgun and $6,441 from Roadvale to Beaudesert 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 Kulgun and Roadvale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kulgun costs a cumulative $140,559 and Roadvale costs $133,176 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,383 in favour of Roadvale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kulgun and Roadvale suits you better?
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Sources: Scenic Rim Regional Council and Scenic Rim 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.