Living in a house in Dudley costs about $7,672 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Dudley sits 8.6 kilometres from Newcastle CBD. Unit costs reach $8,282, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $282 per year at this distance.
About $148 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,282
Incl. body corporate
$690/month
About $159 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$610
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Lake Macquarie rates
$1,763
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Hunter Water
$1,377
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 8.6km from Newcastle CBD · 192 days
$2,682
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire High
$1,850
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$7,672
($639/month, $148/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↓ 16% below Lake Macquarie average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.3/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 94% 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 Dudley'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 Dudley
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Nearest hospital
Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, 3,444 m away, about a 43 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
2
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. 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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Dudley to Newcastle CBD?
Public transport saves Dudley residents $282 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,682 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Dudley?
Dudley 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 Dudley?
Running a unit in Dudley costs approximately $8,282 per year by car or $8,000 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 $660. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Dudley close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Dudley. The running cost on this page assumes driving, which is why the commute component is the largest line for most suburbs in this position.
What is the closest hospital to Dudley?
The closest hospital to the centre of Dudley is Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, about 3,444 m away, about a 43 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 Dudley?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Dudley there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 2 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
Get a free report on one suburb, or compare up to five. The report is free to you. SuburbCost may receive a referral fee from a mortgage broker if you ask us to introduce you.
Included:
Annual cost breakdown
10-year cost projection
School scores & catchments
Flood & fire risk ratings
Crime risk ratings
AI suburb recommendations
Up to 5 suburbs, side by side
Opening your report…
Your report is opening in a new tab. A copy is on its way to your inbox. If it isn't there within a minute, check your junk folder and mark it ‘Not junk’.
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: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.