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 $11,690 a year cheaper than Summer Island, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $134,013.
Over 10 years, Smithtown costs about $134,000 less to run than Summer Island — the same as paying $134,000 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 →Smithtown
Summer Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Smithtown | Summer Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,810 | $18,200 | -$11,390 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $3,100 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,402 | $24,092 | -$11,690 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,992 | $8,292 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 $11,690 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $134,013 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 $300 per year, $7,992 from Smithtown versus $8,292 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 $300 a year, $2,800 against $3,100.
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 | $12,402 | $24,092 | $11,690 |
| Year 3 | $38,333 | $74,466 | $36,133 |
| Year 5 | $65,844 | $127,908 | $62,064 |
| Year 10 | $142,175 | $276,188 | $134,013 |
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 $12,402 per year versus $24,092 for Summer Island, a difference of $11,690 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Smithtown and $2,400 from Summer Island.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Smithtown and Summer Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Smithtown costs a cumulative $142,175 and Summer Island costs $276,188 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $134,013 in favour of Smithtown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Smithtown and Summer Island 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.