Morningside vs Seven Hills, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Morningside and Seven Hills are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 5.1 km and 5.4 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Morningside runs $1,191 a year cheaper than Seven Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $13,654.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $13,700, about $26 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Seven Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Morningside | Seven Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,669 | $1,760 | -$91 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $3,150 | -$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,000 | $2,800 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $6,569 | $7,760 | -$1,191 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,092 | $6,192 | -$1,100 |
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 | Morningside | Seven Hills | 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, Morningside vs Seven Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Morningside and Seven Hills differ by $1,191 a year by car, but $1,100 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 $91, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $5,092 from Morningside versus $6,192 from Seven Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Morningside by $91 a year, $1,669 against $1,760.
- Building insurance favours Morningside by $1,100 a year, $2,050 against $3,150.
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 Morningside against low in Seven Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Seven Hills against medium in Morningside, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.1 in Seven Hills against 7.9 in Morningside, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Morningside cumulative | Seven Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,569 | $7,760 | $1,191 |
| Year 3 | $20,304 | $23,985 | $3,681 |
| Year 5 | $34,876 | $41,199 | $6,323 |
| Year 10 | $75,306 | $88,960 | $13,654 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morningside or Seven Hills cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Morningside runs $6,569 a year by car and Seven Hills $7,760, but most of the $1,191 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $91. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Morningside and Seven Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Morningside (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Seven Hills (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Morningside and $1,900 in Seven Hills. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Morningside and Seven Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,669 from Morningside and $1,760 from Seven Hills to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Morningside and $192 from Seven Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Morningside and Seven Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Morningside costs a cumulative $75,306 and Seven Hills costs $88,960 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $13,654 in favour of Morningside. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Morningside and Seven Hills suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane 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.