Nathan vs Salisbury, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Nathan and Salisbury are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 9.2 km and 8.9 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Nathan runs $1,069 a year cheaper than Salisbury, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,255.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $12,300, about $24 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Salisbury
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Nathan | Salisbury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,845 | $2,764 | +$81 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,550 | $3,700 | -$1,150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,800 | $3,000 | -$200 |
| Total (driving) | $8,245 | $9,314 | -$1,069 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,592 | $6,742 | -$1,150 |
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 | Nathan | Salisbury | 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, Nathan vs Salisbury (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Nathan and Salisbury differ by $1,069 a year by car, but $1,150 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 $81, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,150 per year. Salisbury carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,150 per year, $5,592 from Nathan versus $6,742 from Salisbury.
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 Salisbury by $81 a year, $2,764 against $2,845.
- Building insurance favours Nathan by $1,150 a year, $2,550 against $3,700.
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 high in Salisbury against low in Nathan, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Nathan against medium in Salisbury, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.2 in Nathan against 7.5 in Salisbury, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Nathan cumulative | Salisbury cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,245 | $9,314 | $1,069 |
| Year 3 | $25,484 | $28,789 | $3,305 |
| Year 5 | $43,774 | $49,449 | $5,675 |
| Year 10 | $94,520 | $106,775 | $12,255 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nathan or Salisbury cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Nathan runs $8,245 a year by car and Salisbury $9,314, but most of the $1,069 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $81. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Nathan and Salisbury?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Nathan (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Salisbury (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Nathan and $1,900 in Salisbury. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Nathan and Salisbury?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,845 from Nathan and $2,764 from Salisbury to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Nathan and $192 from Salisbury.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Nathan and Salisbury?
At 3% annual cost growth, Nathan costs a cumulative $94,520 and Salisbury costs $106,775 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,255 in favour of Nathan. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Nathan and Salisbury 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.