Oxley vs Seventeen Mile Rocks: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 11.4 km and 11 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Seventeen Mile Rocks runs $1,801 a year cheaper than Oxley, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $20,646.
Over 10 years, Seventeen Mile Rocks costs about $20,600 less to run than Oxley — the same as paying $20,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Oxley
Seventeen Mile Rocks
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Oxley | Seventeen Mile Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,416 | $3,315 | +$101 |
| Commute (public transport) | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance | $5,500 | $3,800 | +$1,700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,766 | $9,965 | +$1,801 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,542 | $6,842 | +$1,700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Oxley | Seventeen Mile Rocks | 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 — Oxley vs Seventeen Mile Rocks (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Seventeen Mile Rocks costs $1,801 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $20,646 in favour of Seventeen Mile Rocks.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,700 per year. Oxley carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,700 per year, $8,542 from Oxley versus $6,842 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
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 Seventeen Mile Rocks by $101 a year, $3,315 against $3,416.
- Building insurance favours Seventeen Mile Rocks by $1,700 a year, $3,800 against $5,500.
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 Oxley against medium in Seventeen Mile Rocks, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.9 in Seventeen Mile Rocks against 7.3 in Oxley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Oxley cumulative | Seventeen Mile Rocks cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,766 | $9,965 | $1,801 |
| Year 3 | $36,368 | $30,801 | $5,567 |
| Year 5 | $62,467 | $52,906 | $9,561 |
| Year 10 | $134,884 | $114,238 | $20,646 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oxley or Seventeen Mile Rocks cheaper to live in?
Seventeen Mile Rocks is cheaper to run by car at $9,965 per year versus $11,766 for Oxley, a difference of $1,801 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Oxley (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Seventeen Mile Rocks (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Oxley and $1,900 in Seventeen Mile Rocks. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,416 from Oxley and $3,315 from Seventeen Mile Rocks to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Oxley and $192 from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks?
At 3% annual cost growth, Oxley costs a cumulative $134,884 and Seventeen Mile Rocks costs $114,238 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $20,646 in favour of Seventeen Mile Rocks. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.