Magenta vs The Entrance North, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Magenta and The Entrance North are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 69.3 km and 66 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Magenta runs $347 a year cheaper than The Entrance North, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,978.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 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 →Magenta
The Entrance North
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Magenta | The Entrance North | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,239 | $4,036 | -$797 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,800 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,243 | $8,590 | -$347 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,404 | $6,954 | +$450 |
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 | Magenta | The Entrance North | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Magenta vs The Entrance North (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Magenta and The Entrance North differ by $347 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 $797, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $797 per year. Magenta is 69.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,404 from Magenta versus $6,954 from The Entrance North.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Magenta by $797 a year, $3,239 against $4,036.
- Building insurance favours The Entrance North by $450 a year, $1,800 against $2,250.
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 Magenta against low in The Entrance North, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Magenta cumulative | The Entrance North cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,243 | $8,590 | $347 |
| Year 3 | $25,478 | $26,551 | $1,073 |
| Year 5 | $43,763 | $45,605 | $1,842 |
| Year 10 | $94,497 | $98,475 | $3,978 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Magenta or The Entrance North cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Magenta runs $8,243 a year by car and The Entrance North $8,590, but most of the $347 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $797. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Magenta and The Entrance North?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Magenta (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in The Entrance North (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Magenta and $1,300 in The Entrance North. 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 Magenta and The Entrance North?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,239 from Magenta and $4,036 from The Entrance North to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Magenta and $2,400 from The Entrance North.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Magenta and The Entrance North?
At 3% annual cost growth, Magenta costs a cumulative $94,497 and The Entrance North costs $98,475 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,978 in favour of Magenta. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Magenta and The Entrance North suits you better?
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: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.