Pitnacree vs Tenambit, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Pitnacree and Tenambit are both Maitland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.4 km and 26.3 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tenambit runs $432 a year cheaper than Pitnacree, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,952.
Over 10 years, Tenambit costs about $5,000 less to run than Pitnacree. That's about $10 a week.
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Tenambit
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Pitnacree | Tenambit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,970 | $1,970 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,401 | $6,169 | +$232 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,650 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,598 | $11,166 | +$432 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,597 | $7,397 | +$200 |
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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Pitnacree | Tenambit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Pitnacree vs Tenambit (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tenambit costs $432 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,952 in favour of Tenambit.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $232 per year. Pitnacree is 28.4 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,597 from Pitnacree versus $7,397 from Tenambit.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,970 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Tenambit by $232 a year, $6,169 against $6,401.
- Building insurance favours Tenambit by $200 a year, $1,650 against $1,850.
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 Pitnacree against low in Tenambit, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.4 in Pitnacree against 3.3 in Tenambit, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Pitnacree cumulative | Tenambit cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,598 | $11,166 | $432 |
| Year 3 | $35,848 | $34,513 | $1,335 |
| Year 5 | $61,575 | $59,282 | $2,293 |
| Year 10 | $132,958 | $128,006 | $4,952 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pitnacree or Tenambit cheaper to live in?
Tenambit is cheaper to run by car at $11,166 per year versus $11,598 for Pitnacree, a difference of $432 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Pitnacree and Tenambit?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Pitnacree (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Tenambit (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Pitnacree and $1,377 in Tenambit. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Pitnacree and Tenambit?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,401 from Pitnacree and $6,169 from Tenambit to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Pitnacree and $2,400 from Tenambit.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Pitnacree and Tenambit?
At 3% annual cost growth, Pitnacree costs a cumulative $132,958 and Tenambit costs $128,006 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,952 in favour of Tenambit. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Pitnacree and Tenambit suits you better?
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Sources: Maitland rates (OLG and Maitland rates (OLG 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.