Middle Park vs Pinjarra Hills, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 14 km and 13.8 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Middle Park runs $855 a year cheaper than Pinjarra Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,801.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,800, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pinjarra Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Middle Park | Pinjarra Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,036 | $3,991 | +$45 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $2,300 | -$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,200 | +$400 |
| Total (driving) | $8,286 | $9,141 | -$855 |
| Total (public transport) | $4,442 | $5,342 | -$900 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Middle Park | Pinjarra Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Middle Park vs Pinjarra Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills differ by $855 a year by car, but $900 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 $45, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. Pinjarra Hills carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $4,442 from Middle Park versus $5,342 from Pinjarra Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pinjarra Hills by $45 a year, $3,991 against $4,036.
- Building insurance favours Middle Park by $900 a year, $1,400 against $2,300.
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 Pinjarra Hills against low in Middle Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Pinjarra Hills against medium in Middle Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.2 in Pinjarra Hills against 7.8 in Middle Park, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Middle Park cumulative | Pinjarra Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,286 | $9,141 | $855 |
| Year 3 | $25,611 | $28,254 | $2,643 |
| Year 5 | $43,991 | $48,531 | $4,540 |
| Year 10 | $94,990 | $104,791 | $9,801 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Middle Park or Pinjarra Hills cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Middle Park runs $8,286 a year by car and Pinjarra Hills $9,141, but most of the $855 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $45. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Middle Park (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Pinjarra Hills (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Middle Park and $1,900 in Pinjarra Hills. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,036 from Middle Park and $3,991 from Pinjarra Hills to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Middle Park and $192 from Pinjarra Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Middle Park costs a cumulative $94,990 and Pinjarra Hills costs $104,791 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,801 in favour of Middle Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Middle Park and Pinjarra Hills suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City Council 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.