Raworth 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
Raworth and Tenambit are both Maitland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.7 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 $359 a year cheaper than Raworth, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,115.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,100, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tenambit
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Raworth | 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 | $6,328 | $6,169 | +$159 |
| 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) | $11,525 | $11,166 | +$359 |
| 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 | Raworth | 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, Raworth vs Tenambit (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Raworth and Tenambit differ by $359 a year by car, but $200 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 $159, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Raworth carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,597 from Raworth 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 $159 a year, $6,169 against $6,328.
- 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 Raworth against low in Tenambit, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Raworth cumulative | Tenambit cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,525 | $11,166 | $359 |
| Year 3 | $35,623 | $34,513 | $1,110 |
| Year 5 | $61,188 | $59,282 | $1,906 |
| Year 10 | $132,121 | $128,006 | $4,115 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raworth or Tenambit cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Raworth runs $11,525 a year by car and Tenambit $11,166, but most of the $359 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $159. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Raworth and Tenambit?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Raworth (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Tenambit (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Raworth 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 Raworth and Tenambit?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,328 from Raworth and $6,169 from Tenambit to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Raworth and $2,400 from Tenambit.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Raworth and Tenambit?
At 3% annual cost growth, Raworth costs a cumulative $132,121 and Tenambit costs $128,006 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,115 in favour of Tenambit. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Raworth 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.