Raleigh vs Repton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Raleigh and Repton are both Bellingen rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.6 km and 17.9 km from Coffs Harbour CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Repton runs $305 a year cheaper than Raleigh, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,496.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Repton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Raleigh | Repton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,652 | $1,652 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $4,855 | +$655 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,510 | $4,855 | +$655 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,800 | $3,150 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,262 | $10,957 | +$305 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,262 | $10,957 | +$305 |
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 | Raleigh | Repton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Raleigh vs Repton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Raleigh and Repton differ by $305 a year by car, but $350 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 $655, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $655 per year. Raleigh is 21.6 km from Coffs Harbour CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $305 per year, $11,262 from Raleigh versus $10,957 from Repton.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,652 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Repton by $655 a year, $4,855 against $5,510.
- Building insurance favours Raleigh by $350 a year, $2,800 against $3,150.
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 Repton against medium in Raleigh, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Repton against 5.4 in Raleigh, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Raleigh cumulative | Repton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,262 | $10,957 | $305 |
| Year 3 | $34,810 | $33,867 | $943 |
| Year 5 | $59,791 | $58,172 | $1,619 |
| Year 10 | $129,106 | $125,610 | $3,496 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raleigh or Repton cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Raleigh runs $11,262 a year by car and Repton $10,957, but most of the $305 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $655. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Raleigh and Repton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,652 in Raleigh (Bellingen rates (OLG) and $1,652 in Repton (Bellingen rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Raleigh and $1,300 in Repton. 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 Raleigh and Repton?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,510 from Raleigh and $4,855 from Repton to Coffs Harbour CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Raleigh and Repton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Raleigh costs a cumulative $129,106 and Repton costs $125,610 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,496 in favour of Repton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Raleigh and Repton suits you better?
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Sources: Bellingen rates (OLG and Bellingen 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.