Ooralea vs Racecourse, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ooralea and Racecourse are both Mackay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 5.7 km and 5.4 km from Mackay CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Ooralea runs $460 a year cheaper than Racecourse, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,274.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,300, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Racecourse
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ooralea | Racecourse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,466 | $1,466 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,048 | $2,048 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,850 | $1,760 | +$90 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,150 | $3,700 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $2,200 | -$200 |
| Total (driving) | $8,514 | $8,974 | -$460 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,856 | $7,406 | -$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 | Ooralea | Racecourse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,140 | $2,140 | - |
| Unit | $1,770 | $1,770 | - |
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, Ooralea vs Racecourse (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ooralea and Racecourse differ by $460 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 $90, 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, $6,856 from Ooralea versus $7,406 from Racecourse.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,466 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,048 a year.
- Driving commute favours Racecourse by $90 a year, $1,760 against $1,850.
- Building insurance favours Ooralea by $550 a year, $3,150 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.
The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Racecourse against 4 in Ooralea, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ooralea cumulative | Racecourse cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,514 | $8,974 | $460 |
| Year 3 | $26,316 | $27,738 | $1,422 |
| Year 5 | $45,202 | $47,644 | $2,442 |
| Year 10 | $97,603 | $102,877 | $5,274 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ooralea or Racecourse cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ooralea runs $8,514 a year by car and Racecourse $8,974, but most of the $460 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $90. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ooralea and Racecourse?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,466 in Ooralea (Mackay Regional Council) and $1,466 in Racecourse (Mackay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,048 in Ooralea and $2,048 in Racecourse. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Ooralea and Racecourse?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,850 from Ooralea and $1,760 from Racecourse to Mackay CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Ooralea and $192 from Racecourse.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ooralea and Racecourse?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ooralea costs a cumulative $97,603 and Racecourse costs $102,877 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,274 in favour of Ooralea. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ooralea and Racecourse suits you better?
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Sources: Mackay Regional Council and Mackay 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.