Marmong Point vs Speers Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Marmong Point and Speers Point are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.3 km and 15.2 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Speers Point runs $633 a year cheaper than Marmong Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,257.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Speers Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Marmong Point | Speers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,535 | $4,302 | +$233 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,850 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,925 | $9,292 | +$633 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,790 | $7,390 | +$400 |
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 | Marmong Point | Speers Point | 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, Marmong Point vs Speers Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Marmong Point and Speers Point differ by $633 a year by car, but $400 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 $233, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Marmong Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,790 from Marmong Point versus $7,390 from Speers Point.
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 Speers Point by $233 a year, $4,302 against $4,535.
- Building insurance favours Speers Point by $400 a year, $1,850 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 Marmong Point against low in Speers Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6 in Speers Point against 4.3 in Marmong Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Marmong Point cumulative | Speers Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,925 | $9,292 | $633 |
| Year 3 | $30,677 | $28,721 | $1,956 |
| Year 5 | $52,693 | $49,332 | $3,361 |
| Year 10 | $113,779 | $106,522 | $7,257 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marmong Point or Speers Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Marmong Point runs $9,925 a year by car and Speers Point $9,292, but most of the $633 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $233. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Marmong Point and Speers Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Marmong Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Speers Point (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Marmong Point and $1,377 in Speers Point. 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 Marmong Point and Speers Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,535 from Marmong Point and $4,302 from Speers Point to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Marmong Point and $2,400 from Speers Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Marmong Point and Speers Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Marmong Point costs a cumulative $113,779 and Speers Point costs $106,522 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,257 in favour of Speers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Marmong Point and Speers Point 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.