Smithtown vs Summer Island, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Smithtown and Summer Island are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Smithtown runs $11,640 a year cheaper than Summer Island, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $133,440.
Over 10 years, Smithtown costs about $133,400 less to run than Summer Island. That's about $257 a week.
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Summer Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Smithtown | Summer Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,810 | $18,200 | -$11,390 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,810 | $18,200 | -$11,390 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,350 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,702 | $23,342 | -$11,640 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,702 | $23,342 | -$11,640 |
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 | Smithtown | Summer Island | 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, Smithtown vs Summer Island (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Smithtown costs $11,640 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $133,440 in favour of Smithtown.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,390 per year. Summer Island is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,640 per year, $11,702 from Smithtown versus $23,342 from Summer Island.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Smithtown by $11,390 a year, $6,810 against $18,200.
- Building insurance favours Smithtown by $250 a year, $2,100 against $2,350.
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 Summer Island against low in Smithtown, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.8 in Summer Island against 3.1 in Smithtown, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Smithtown cumulative | Summer Island cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,702 | $23,342 | $11,640 |
| Year 3 | $36,170 | $72,148 | $35,978 |
| Year 5 | $62,128 | $123,926 | $61,798 |
| Year 10 | $134,150 | $267,590 | $133,440 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smithtown or Summer Island cheaper to live in?
Smithtown is cheaper to run by car at $11,702 per year versus $23,342 for Summer Island, a difference of $11,640 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Smithtown and Summer Island?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Smithtown (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Summer Island (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Smithtown and $1,300 in Summer Island. 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 Smithtown and Summer Island?
Smithtown is $6,810 a year to drive to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Summer Island carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Smithtown and Summer Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Smithtown costs a cumulative $134,150 and Summer Island costs $267,590 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $133,440 in favour of Smithtown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Smithtown and Summer Island suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.