Tennyson vs Yeerongpilly, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Tennyson and Yeerongpilly are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 6.9 km and 6.7 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yeerongpilly runs $309 a year cheaper than Tennyson, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,542.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Yeerongpilly
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Tennyson | Yeerongpilly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,204 | $2,145 | +$59 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $2,050 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,900 | $2,800 | +$100 |
| Total (driving) | $7,354 | $7,045 | +$309 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,342 | $5,092 | +$250 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Tennyson | Yeerongpilly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Tennyson vs Yeerongpilly (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tennyson and Yeerongpilly differ by $309 a year by car, but $250 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 $59, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $5,342 from Tennyson versus $5,092 from Yeerongpilly.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yeerongpilly by $59 a year, $2,145 against $2,204.
- Building insurance favours Yeerongpilly by $250 a year, $2,050 against $2,300.
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 Yeerongpilly against low in Tennyson, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.5 in Tennyson against 8.2 in Yeerongpilly, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Tennyson cumulative | Yeerongpilly cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,354 | $7,045 | $309 |
| Year 3 | $22,730 | $21,775 | $955 |
| Year 5 | $39,043 | $37,403 | $1,640 |
| Year 10 | $84,305 | $80,763 | $3,542 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tennyson or Yeerongpilly cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Tennyson runs $7,354 a year by car and Yeerongpilly $7,045, but most of the $309 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $59. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Tennyson and Yeerongpilly?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Tennyson (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Yeerongpilly (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Tennyson and $1,900 in Yeerongpilly. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Tennyson and Yeerongpilly?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,204 from Tennyson and $2,145 from Yeerongpilly to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Tennyson and $192 from Yeerongpilly.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Tennyson and Yeerongpilly?
At 3% annual cost growth, Tennyson costs a cumulative $84,305 and Yeerongpilly costs $80,763 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,542 in favour of Yeerongpilly. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Tennyson and Yeerongpilly suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City Council 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.