Martins Creek vs Paterson, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Martins Creek and Paterson are both Dungog rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.7 km and 41.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $199 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 $2,300, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Paterson
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Martins Creek | Paterson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,929 | $6,978 | -$49 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,929 | $6,978 | -$49 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $2,350 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,218 | $12,417 | -$199 |
| Total (public transport) | $12,218 | $12,417 | -$199 |
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 | Martins Creek | Paterson | 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, Martins Creek vs Paterson (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Martins Creek and Paterson differ by $199 a year by car, but $150 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 $49, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year. Paterson carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $12,218 and $12,417 a year, so the $199 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,712 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Martins Creek by $49 a year, $6,929 against $6,978.
- Building insurance favours Martins Creek by $150 a year, $2,200 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Paterson against medium in Martins Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Martins Creek against medium in Paterson, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Martins Creek cumulative | Paterson cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,218 | $12,417 | $199 |
| Year 3 | $37,765 | $38,380 | $615 |
| Year 5 | $64,867 | $65,924 | $1,057 |
| Year 10 | $140,066 | $142,347 | $2,281 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Martins Creek or Paterson cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Martins Creek runs $12,218 a year by car and Paterson $12,417, but most of the $199 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $49. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Martins Creek and Paterson?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,712 in Martins Creek (Dungog rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Paterson (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Martins Creek and $1,377 in Paterson. 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 Martins Creek and Paterson?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,929 from Martins Creek and $6,978 from Paterson to Newcastle 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 Martins Creek and Paterson?
At 3% annual cost growth, Martins Creek costs a cumulative $140,066 and Paterson costs $142,347 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,281 in favour of Martins Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Martins Creek and Paterson 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.
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Sources: Dungog rates (OLG and Dungog 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.