Rosewood vs Yippin Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rosewood and Yippin Creek are both Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.9 km and 18.5 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yippin Creek runs $988 a year cheaper than Rosewood, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,326.
Over 10 years, Yippin Creek costs about $11,300 less to run than Rosewood — the same as paying $11,300 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Rosewood
Yippin Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rosewood | Yippin Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,370 | $1,370 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,558 | $4,970 | +$588 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $2,450 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,078 | $10,090 | +$988 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,920 | $7,520 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Rosewood | Yippin Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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 — Rosewood vs Yippin Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Yippin Creek costs $988 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $11,326 in favour of Yippin Creek.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $588 per year. Rosewood is 21.9 km from Port Macquarie CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,920 from Rosewood versus $7,520 from Yippin Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,370 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yippin Creek by $588 a year, $4,970 against $5,558.
- Building insurance favours Yippin Creek by $400 a year, $2,450 against $2,850.
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 high in Rosewood against medium in Yippin Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5 in Rosewood against 3.5 in Yippin Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rosewood cumulative | Yippin Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,078 | $10,090 | $988 |
| Year 3 | $34,241 | $31,187 | $3,054 |
| Year 5 | $58,815 | $53,569 | $5,246 |
| Year 10 | $126,997 | $115,671 | $11,326 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rosewood or Yippin Creek cheaper to live in?
Yippin Creek is cheaper to run by car at $10,090 per year versus $11,078 for Rosewood, a difference of $988 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Rosewood and Yippin Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,370 in Rosewood (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG) and $1,370 in Yippin Creek (Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Rosewood and $1,300 in Yippin Creek. 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 Rosewood and Yippin Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,558 from Rosewood and $4,970 from Yippin Creek to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Rosewood and $2,400 from Yippin Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Rosewood and Yippin Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rosewood costs a cumulative $126,997 and Yippin Creek costs $115,671 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,326 in favour of Yippin Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rosewood and Yippin Creek is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG and Port Macquarie-Hastings rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.