Prince Henry Heights vs Redwood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Prince Henry Heights and Redwood are both Toowoomba Regional Council suburbs, sitting 4.5 km and 3.9 km from Toowoomba CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Redwood runs $1,037 a year cheaper than Prince Henry Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,888.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,900, about $23 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Redwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Prince Henry Heights | Redwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,444 | $1,444 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,188 | $2,188 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,484 | $1,297 | +$187 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $1,650 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $2,000 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,616 | $6,579 | +$1,037 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,324 | $5,474 | +$850 |
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 | Prince Henry Heights | Redwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,274 | $2,274 | - |
| Unit | $1,870 | $1,870 | - |
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, Prince Henry Heights vs Redwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Prince Henry Heights and Redwood differ by $1,037 a year by car, but $850 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 $187, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $6,324 from Prince Henry Heights versus $5,474 from Redwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,444 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,188 a year.
- Driving commute favours Redwood by $187 a year, $1,297 against $1,484.
- Building insurance favours Redwood by $850 a year, $1,650 against $2,500.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Prince Henry Heights against medium in Redwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Prince Henry Heights cumulative | Redwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,616 | $6,579 | $1,037 |
| Year 3 | $23,540 | $20,335 | $3,205 |
| Year 5 | $40,434 | $34,929 | $5,505 |
| Year 10 | $87,309 | $75,421 | $11,888 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prince Henry Heights or Redwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Prince Henry Heights runs $7,616 a year by car and Redwood $6,579, but most of the $1,037 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $187. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Prince Henry Heights and Redwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,444 in Prince Henry Heights (Toowoomba Regional Council) and $1,444 in Redwood (Toowoomba Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,188 in Prince Henry Heights and $2,188 in Redwood. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Prince Henry Heights and Redwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,484 from Prince Henry Heights and $1,297 from Redwood to Toowoomba CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Prince Henry Heights and $192 from Redwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Prince Henry Heights and Redwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Prince Henry Heights costs a cumulative $87,309 and Redwood costs $75,421 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,888 in favour of Redwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Prince Henry Heights and Redwood suits you better?
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Sources: Toowoomba Regional Council and Toowoomba 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.