Mooneba vs Turners Flat, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mooneba and Turners Flat are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 47.9 km and 49.2 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $147 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, Turners Flat costs about $1,700 less to run than Mooneba. That's about $3 a week.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Mooneba
Turners Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mooneba | Turners Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,716 | $6,619 | +$97 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,716 | $6,619 | +$97 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,800 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,358 | $11,211 | +$147 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,358 | $11,211 | +$147 |
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 | Mooneba | Turners Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Mooneba vs Turners Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mooneba and Turners Flat cost within $147 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $1,685, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $97 per year. Turners Flat is 49.2 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $11,358 and $11,211 a year, so the $147 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Turners Flat by $97 a year, $6,619 against $6,716.
- Building insurance favours Turners Flat by $50 a year, $1,800 against $1,850.
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 medium in Mooneba against low in Turners Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Turners Flat against medium in Mooneba, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mooneba cumulative | Turners Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,358 | $11,211 | $147 |
| Year 3 | $35,106 | $34,652 | $454 |
| Year 5 | $60,301 | $59,521 | $780 |
| Year 10 | $130,207 | $128,522 | $1,685 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mooneba or Turners Flat cheaper to live in?
Turners Flat is cheaper to run by car at $11,211 per year versus $11,358 for Mooneba, a difference of $147 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mooneba and Turners Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Mooneba (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Turners Flat (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mooneba and $1,300 in Turners Flat. 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 Mooneba and Turners Flat?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,716 from Mooneba and $6,619 from Turners Flat to Port Macquarie 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 Mooneba and Turners Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mooneba costs a cumulative $130,207 and Turners Flat costs $128,522 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,685 in favour of Turners Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mooneba and Turners Flat suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.