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91.7 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Dora Creek, NSW 2264

Living in a house in Dora Creek costs about $10,245 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Dora Creek sits 91.7 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,655, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 91.7km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,605 more per year than public transport users.

Last updated July 2026 · Lake Macquarie Council rates 2026-27, ATO 91c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights

Running costs sit near the Lake Macquarie average, cheaper than 40% of suburbs in the region.
The commute is the biggest expense at $4,005, roughly 39% of the annual total.
Flood risk is rated high here, which lifts home insurance. Full risk detail is in the free report.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
House annual cost
$10,245
Driving · per year
$854/month
Lower cost
Unit annual cost
$9,655
Incl. body corporate
$805/month
House vs unit difference
−$590
Unit is cheaper per year

Annual cost breakdown

Council rates
Lake Macquarie rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,763
Water & sewerage
Hunter Water 2026-27
$1,377
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 91.7km from CBD · 192 days
$4,005
Home insurance
Estimated · flood High · fire Medium
$3,100
Total annual running cost
$10,245
($854/month)
Near Lake Macquarie average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○ 3.8/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 40% of Lake Macquarie suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).

Estimated electricity cost

typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Dora Creek's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.

Getting around Dora Creek

within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Dora Creek, 1,543 m away, about a 19 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Moriseset Comunity Health Centre, 4,570 m away, about a 57 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
3
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.

Compare Dora Creek with another suburb

Frequently asked questions about Dora Creek

Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Dora Creek to the CBD?

Public transport saves Dora Creek residents $1,605 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,005 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.

What are the council rates in Dora Creek?

Dora Creek falls under Lake Macquarie Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,763 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,763 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.

What does it cost to run a unit in Dora Creek?

Running a unit in Dora Creek costs approximately $9,655 per year by car or $8,050 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,763, water and sewerage $1,377, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

Is Dora Creek close to public transport?

The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Dora Creek is Dora Creek, a train stop about 1,543 m away, about a 19 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.

What is the closest hospital to Dora Creek?

The closest hospital to the centre of Dora Creek is Moriseset Comunity Health Centre, about 4,570 m away, about a 57 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.

What shops and parks are in Dora Creek?

Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Dora Creek there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 3 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.

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Data sources: Council rates: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Hunter Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.