Laurieton vs North Haven, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Laurieton and North Haven are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 25.2 km and 24.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $230 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,600, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Laurieton
North Haven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Laurieton | North Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,032 | $5,912 | +$120 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,032 | $5,912 | +$120 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,750 | $3,100 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,452 | $11,682 | -$230 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,452 | $11,682 | -$230 |
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 | Laurieton | North Haven | 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, Laurieton vs North Haven (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Laurieton and North Haven differ by $230 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 $120, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. North Haven carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $230 per year, $11,452 from Laurieton versus $11,682 from North Haven.
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 North Haven by $120 a year, $5,912 against $6,032.
- Building insurance favours Laurieton by $350 a year, $2,750 against $3,100.
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 North Haven against medium in Laurieton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Laurieton cumulative | North Haven cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,452 | $11,682 | $230 |
| Year 3 | $35,397 | $36,108 | $711 |
| Year 5 | $60,800 | $62,021 | $1,221 |
| Year 10 | $131,284 | $133,921 | $2,637 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laurieton or North Haven cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Laurieton runs $11,452 a year by car and North Haven $11,682, but most of the $230 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $120. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Laurieton and North Haven?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Laurieton (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in North Haven (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Laurieton and $1,300 in North Haven. 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 Laurieton and North Haven?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,032 from Laurieton and $5,912 from North Haven 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 Laurieton and North Haven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Laurieton costs a cumulative $131,284 and North Haven costs $133,921 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,637 in favour of Laurieton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Laurieton and North Haven 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.