Mirrabooka vs Morisset Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mirrabooka and Morisset Park are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 89.7 km and 88.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $139 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 $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Morisset Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mirrabooka | Morisset Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,918 | $3,857 | +$61 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,800 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,658 | $8,797 | -$139 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,140 | $7,340 | -$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 | Mirrabooka | Morisset Park | 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, Mirrabooka vs Morisset Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mirrabooka and Morisset Park differ by $139 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 $61, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Morisset Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,140 from Mirrabooka versus $7,340 from Morisset Park.
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 Morisset Park by $61 a year, $3,857 against $3,918.
- Building insurance favours Mirrabooka by $200 a year, $1,600 against $1,800.
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 Morisset Park against medium in Mirrabooka, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Mirrabooka against low in Morisset Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mirrabooka cumulative | Morisset Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,658 | $8,797 | $139 |
| Year 3 | $26,761 | $27,191 | $430 |
| Year 5 | $45,966 | $46,704 | $738 |
| Year 10 | $99,254 | $100,848 | $1,594 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mirrabooka or Morisset Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mirrabooka runs $8,658 a year by car and Morisset Park $8,797, but most of the $139 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $61. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mirrabooka and Morisset Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Mirrabooka (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Morisset Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Mirrabooka and $1,377 in Morisset Park. 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 Mirrabooka and Morisset Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,918 from Mirrabooka and $3,857 from Morisset Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mirrabooka and $2,400 from Morisset Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mirrabooka and Morisset Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mirrabooka costs a cumulative $99,254 and Morisset Park costs $100,848 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,594 in favour of Mirrabooka. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mirrabooka and Morisset Park 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.