Nundah vs Wavell Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Nundah and Wavell Heights are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 8.3 km and 8.7 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Nundah runs $659 a year cheaper than Wavell Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,555.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,600, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wavell Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Nundah | Wavell Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,600 | $2,709 | -$109 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $2,150 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,000 | $2,800 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $7,050 | $7,709 | -$659 |
| Total (public transport) | $4,642 | $5,192 | -$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 | Nundah | Wavell Heights | 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, Nundah vs Wavell Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Nundah and Wavell Heights differ by $659 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 $109, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year. Wavell Heights carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $4,642 from Nundah versus $5,192 from Wavell Heights.
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 Nundah by $109 a year, $2,600 against $2,709.
- Building insurance favours Nundah by $550 a year, $1,600 against $2,150.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Wavell Heights against low in Nundah, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.4 in Nundah against 5.6 in Wavell Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Nundah cumulative | Wavell Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,050 | $7,709 | $659 |
| Year 3 | $21,791 | $23,828 | $2,037 |
| Year 5 | $37,429 | $40,928 | $3,499 |
| Year 10 | $80,820 | $88,375 | $7,555 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nundah or Wavell Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Nundah runs $7,050 a year by car and Wavell Heights $7,709, but most of the $659 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $109. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Nundah and Wavell Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Nundah (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Wavell Heights (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Nundah and $1,900 in Wavell Heights. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Nundah and Wavell Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,600 from Nundah and $2,709 from Wavell Heights to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Nundah and $192 from Wavell Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Nundah and Wavell Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Nundah costs a cumulative $80,820 and Wavell Heights costs $88,375 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,555 in favour of Nundah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Nundah and Wavell Heights 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.