Port Stephens vs Soldiers Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Port Stephens and Soldiers Point are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 34.7 km and 36.1 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Soldiers Point runs $344 a year cheaper than Port Stephens, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,944.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,900, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Soldiers Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Port Stephens | Soldiers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,866 | $6,922 | -$56 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,650 | $1,250 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,308 | $10,964 | +$344 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,842 | $6,442 | +$400 |
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 | Port Stephens | Soldiers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,292 | $2,342 | -$50 |
| Unit | $1,871 | $1,909 | -$38 |
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, Port Stephens vs Soldiers Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Port Stephens and Soldiers Point differ by $344 a year by car, but $400 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 $56, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Port Stephens carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,842 from Port Stephens versus $6,442 from Soldiers Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,415 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Port Stephens by $56 a year, $6,866 against $6,922.
- Building insurance favours Soldiers Point by $400 a year, $1,250 against $1,650.
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 Port Stephens against medium in Soldiers Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Port Stephens cumulative | Soldiers Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,308 | $10,964 | $344 |
| Year 3 | $34,952 | $33,889 | $1,063 |
| Year 5 | $60,036 | $58,209 | $1,827 |
| Year 10 | $129,634 | $125,690 | $3,944 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Port Stephens or Soldiers Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Port Stephens runs $11,308 a year by car and Soldiers Point $10,964, but most of the $344 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $56. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Port Stephens and Soldiers Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Port Stephens (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Soldiers Point (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Port Stephens and $1,377 in Soldiers Point. 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 Port Stephens and Soldiers Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,866 from Port Stephens and $6,922 from Soldiers Point to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Port Stephens and $2,400 from Soldiers Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Port Stephens and Soldiers Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Port Stephens costs a cumulative $129,634 and Soldiers Point costs $125,690 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,944 in favour of Soldiers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Port Stephens and Soldiers Point suits you better?
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Sources: Port Stephens rates (OLG and Port Stephens 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.