Mirrabooka vs Summerland 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
Mirrabooka (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and Summerland Point (Central Coast rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (89.7 km and 87.5 km).
The two sit within $168 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 $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Summerland Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mirrabooka | Summerland Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,454 | +$309 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,377 | $1,300 | +$77 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,918 | $3,822 | +$96 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $2,250 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,658 | $8,826 | -$168 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,140 | $7,404 | -$264 |
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 | Summerland 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, Mirrabooka vs Summerland Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mirrabooka and Summerland Point differ by $168 a year by car, but $650 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 $482, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Summerland Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $264 per year, $7,140 from Mirrabooka versus $7,404 from Summerland Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Summerland Point by $309 a year, $1,454 against $1,763.
- Water and sewerage favours Summerland Point by $77 a year, $1,300 against $1,377.
- Driving commute favours Summerland Point by $96 a year, $3,822 against $3,918.
- Building insurance favours Mirrabooka by $650 a year, $1,600 against $2,250.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in Summerland Point against medium in Mirrabooka, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Summerland Point against medium in Mirrabooka, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mirrabooka cumulative | Summerland Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,658 | $8,826 | $168 |
| Year 3 | $26,761 | $27,280 | $519 |
| Year 5 | $45,966 | $46,858 | $892 |
| Year 10 | $99,254 | $101,180 | $1,926 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mirrabooka or Summerland Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mirrabooka runs $8,658 a year by car and Summerland Point $8,826, but most of the $168 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $482. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mirrabooka and Summerland Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Mirrabooka (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Summerland Point (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Mirrabooka and $1,300 in Summerland 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 Mirrabooka and Summerland Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,918 from Mirrabooka and $3,822 from Summerland Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mirrabooka and $2,400 from Summerland Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mirrabooka and Summerland Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mirrabooka costs a cumulative $99,254 and Summerland Point costs $101,180 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,926 in favour of Mirrabooka. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mirrabooka and Summerland Point 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: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.