Moorina vs Upper Caboolture, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Moorina and Upper Caboolture are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 38.7 km and 41.4 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $151 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 $1,700, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Upper Caboolture
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moorina | Upper Caboolture | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,981 | $6,980 | +$1 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $2,150 | +$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $12,734 | $12,583 | +$151 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,945 | $5,795 | +$150 |
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 | Moorina | Upper Caboolture | 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, Moorina vs Upper Caboolture (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Moorina and Upper Caboolture differ by $151 a year by car, but $150 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 $1, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,945 and $5,795 a year, so the $151 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Upper Caboolture by $1 a year, $6,980 against $6,981.
- Building insurance favours Upper Caboolture by $150 a year, $2,150 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.
The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Moorina against 4.7 in Upper Caboolture, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Moorina cumulative | Upper Caboolture cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,734 | $12,583 | $151 |
| Year 3 | $39,360 | $38,893 | $467 |
| Year 5 | $67,607 | $66,805 | $802 |
| Year 10 | $145,981 | $144,250 | $1,731 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moorina or Upper Caboolture cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Moorina runs $12,734 a year by car and Upper Caboolture $12,583, but most of the $151 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $1. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Moorina and Upper Caboolture?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Moorina (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Upper Caboolture (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Moorina and $2,144 in Upper Caboolture. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Moorina and Upper Caboolture?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,981 from Moorina and $6,980 from Upper Caboolture to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Moorina and $192 from Upper Caboolture.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moorina and Upper Caboolture?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moorina costs a cumulative $145,981 and Upper Caboolture costs $144,250 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,731 in favour of Upper Caboolture. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Moorina and Upper Caboolture suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Regional 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.