Marks Point vs Pelican, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Marks Point and Pelican are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 99.1 km and 97.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $129 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 $1,500, about $3 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 →Marks Point
Pelican
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Marks Point | Pelican | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,329 | $4,258 | +$71 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,050 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,319 | $9,448 | -$129 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,590 | -$200 |
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 | Marks Point | Pelican | 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, Marks Point vs Pelican (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Marks Point and Pelican differ by $129 a year by car, but $200 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 $71, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Pelican carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,390 from Marks Point versus $7,590 from Pelican.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pelican by $71 a year, $4,258 against $4,329.
- Building insurance favours Marks Point by $200 a year, $1,850 against $2,050.
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 medium in Pelican against low in Marks Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Pelican against 4.4 in Marks Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Marks Point cumulative | Pelican cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,319 | $9,448 | $129 |
| Year 3 | $28,804 | $29,203 | $399 |
| Year 5 | $49,476 | $50,161 | $685 |
| Year 10 | $106,832 | $108,311 | $1,479 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marks Point or Pelican cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Marks Point runs $9,319 a year by car and Pelican $9,448, but most of the $129 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $71. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Marks Point and Pelican?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Marks Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Pelican (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Marks Point and $1,377 in Pelican. 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 Marks Point and Pelican?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,329 from Marks Point and $4,258 from Pelican to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Marks Point and $2,400 from Pelican.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Marks Point and Pelican?
At 3% annual cost growth, Marks Point costs a cumulative $106,832 and Pelican costs $108,311 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,479 in favour of Marks Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Marks Point and Pelican suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.