Soldiers Point vs Taylors Beach, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 36.1 km and 33.7 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Soldiers Point runs $693 a year cheaper than Taylors Beach, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,944.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,900, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Taylors Beach
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Soldiers Point | Taylors Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,922 | $6,815 | +$107 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,250 | $2,050 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,964 | $11,657 | -$693 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,442 | $7,242 | -$800 |
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 | Soldiers Point | Taylors Beach | 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, Soldiers Point vs Taylors Beach (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach differ by $693 a year by car, but $800 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 $107, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Taylors Beach carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $6,442 from Soldiers Point versus $7,242 from Taylors Beach.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,415 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Taylors Beach by $107 a year, $6,815 against $6,922.
- Building insurance favours Soldiers Point by $800 a year, $1,250 against $2,050.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Taylors Beach against medium in Soldiers Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Taylors Beach against low in Soldiers Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Soldiers Point cumulative | Taylors Beach cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,964 | $11,657 | $693 |
| Year 3 | $33,889 | $36,031 | $2,142 |
| Year 5 | $58,209 | $61,889 | $3,680 |
| Year 10 | $125,690 | $133,634 | $7,944 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Soldiers Point or Taylors Beach cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Soldiers Point runs $10,964 a year by car and Taylors Beach $11,657, but most of the $693 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $107. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Soldiers Point (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Taylors Beach (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Soldiers Point and $1,377 in Taylors Beach. 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 Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,922 from Soldiers Point and $6,815 from Taylors Beach to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Soldiers Point and $2,400 from Taylors Beach.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach?
At 3% annual cost growth, Soldiers Point costs a cumulative $125,690 and Taylors Beach costs $133,634 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,944 in favour of Soldiers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Soldiers Point and Taylors Beach suits you better?
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Sources: Port Stephens rates (OLG and Port Stephens 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.