Maryland vs Minmi, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Maryland and Minmi are both Newcastle rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.6 km and 15.8 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Maryland runs $965 a year cheaper than Minmi, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,062.
Over 10 years, Maryland costs about $11,100 less to run than Minmi. That's about $21 a week.
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Minmi
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Maryland | Minmi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,858 | $1,858 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,466 | $4,431 | -$965 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,551 | $9,516 | -$965 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,485 | $7,485 | - |
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 | Maryland | Minmi | 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, Maryland vs Minmi (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Maryland costs $965 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $11,062 in favour of Maryland.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $965 per year. Minmi is 15.8 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,485 and $7,485 a year, so the $965 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,858 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Maryland by $965 a year, $3,466 against $4,431.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Maryland against medium in Minmi, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Minmi against low in Maryland, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Maryland cumulative | Minmi cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,551 | $9,516 | $965 |
| Year 3 | $26,430 | $29,413 | $2,983 |
| Year 5 | $45,398 | $50,522 | $5,124 |
| Year 10 | $98,028 | $109,090 | $11,062 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maryland or Minmi cheaper to live in?
Maryland is cheaper to run by car at $8,551 per year versus $9,516 for Minmi, a difference of $965 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Maryland and Minmi?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,858 in Maryland (Newcastle rates (OLG) and $1,858 in Minmi (Newcastle rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Maryland and $1,377 in Minmi. 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 Maryland and Minmi?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,466 from Maryland and $4,431 from Minmi to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Maryland and $2,400 from Minmi.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Maryland and Minmi?
At 3% annual cost growth, Maryland costs a cumulative $98,028 and Minmi costs $109,090 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,062 in favour of Maryland. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Maryland and Minmi suits you better?
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Sources: Newcastle rates (OLG and Newcastle 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.