Tanilba Bay vs Tilligerry 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
Tanilba Bay and Tilligerry Creek are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 29.6 km and 25.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tilligerry Creek runs $833 a year cheaper than Tanilba Bay, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,550.
Over 10 years, Tilligerry Creek costs about $9,600 less to run than Tanilba Bay. That's about $18 a week.
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Tilligerry Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Tanilba Bay | Tilligerry Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,516 | $6,083 | +$433 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,650 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,358 | $10,525 | +$833 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,242 | $6,842 | +$400 |
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 | Tanilba Bay | Tilligerry Creek | 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, Tanilba Bay vs Tilligerry Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tilligerry Creek costs $833 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,550 in favour of Tilligerry Creek.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $433 per year. Tanilba Bay is 29.6 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,242 from Tanilba Bay versus $6,842 from Tilligerry Creek.
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 Tilligerry Creek by $433 a year, $6,083 against $6,516.
- Building insurance favours Tilligerry Creek by $400 a year, $1,650 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Tanilba Bay against low in Tilligerry Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Tilligerry Creek against 3.5 in Tanilba Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Tanilba Bay cumulative | Tilligerry Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,358 | $10,525 | $833 |
| Year 3 | $35,106 | $32,532 | $2,574 |
| Year 5 | $60,301 | $55,879 | $4,422 |
| Year 10 | $130,207 | $120,657 | $9,550 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tanilba Bay or Tilligerry Creek cheaper to live in?
Tilligerry Creek is cheaper to run by car at $10,525 per year versus $11,358 for Tanilba Bay, a difference of $833 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Tanilba Bay and Tilligerry Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Tanilba Bay (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Tilligerry Creek (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Tanilba Bay and $1,377 in Tilligerry 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 Tanilba Bay and Tilligerry Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,516 from Tanilba Bay and $6,083 from Tilligerry Creek to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Tanilba Bay and $2,400 from Tilligerry Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Tanilba Bay and Tilligerry Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Tanilba Bay costs a cumulative $130,207 and Tilligerry Creek costs $120,657 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,550 in favour of Tilligerry Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Tanilba Bay and Tilligerry Creek 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.