Moores Pocket vs North Booval, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Moores Pocket and North Booval are both Ipswich City Council suburbs, sitting 27.9 km and 27.2 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Moores Pocket runs $474 a year cheaper than North Booval, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,434.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,400, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Booval
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moores Pocket | North Booval | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,298 | $1,298 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,349 | $6,273 | +$76 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $2,000 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,200 | $2,200 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,997 | $11,471 | -$474 |
| Total (public transport) | $4,840 | $5,390 | -$550 |
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 | Moores Pocket | North Booval | 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, Moores Pocket vs North Booval (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Moores Pocket and North Booval differ by $474 a year by car, but $550 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 $76, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $4,840 from Moores Pocket versus $5,390 from North Booval.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,298 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Booval by $76 a year, $6,273 against $6,349.
- Building insurance favours Moores Pocket by $550 a year, $1,450 against $2,000.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in North Booval against medium in Moores Pocket, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Moores Pocket cumulative | North Booval cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,997 | $11,471 | $474 |
| Year 3 | $33,991 | $35,456 | $1,465 |
| Year 5 | $58,385 | $60,901 | $2,516 |
| Year 10 | $126,068 | $131,502 | $5,434 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moores Pocket or North Booval cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Moores Pocket runs $10,997 a year by car and North Booval $11,471, but most of the $474 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $76. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Moores Pocket and North Booval?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,298 in Moores Pocket (Ipswich City Council) and $1,298 in North Booval (Ipswich City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Moores Pocket and $1,900 in North Booval. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Moores Pocket and North Booval?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,349 from Moores Pocket and $6,273 from North Booval to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Moores Pocket and $192 from North Booval.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moores Pocket and North Booval?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moores Pocket costs a cumulative $126,068 and North Booval costs $131,502 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,434 in favour of Moores Pocket. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Moores Pocket and North Booval suits you better?
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Sources: Ipswich City Council and Ipswich 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.