Backmede vs Fairy Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Backmede and Fairy Hill are both Richmond Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Backmede runs $400 a year cheaper than Fairy Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Fairy Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Backmede | Fairy Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,329 | $1,329 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,200 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,629 | $23,029 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,629 | $23,029 | -$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 | Backmede | Fairy Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Backmede vs Fairy Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Backmede and Fairy Hill differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Fairy Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $22,629 from Backmede versus $23,029 from Fairy Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,329 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Backmede by $400 a year, $1,800 against $2,200.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Fairy Hill against low in Backmede, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Backmede cumulative | Fairy Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,629 | $23,029 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $69,944 | $71,180 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $120,140 | $122,264 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $259,416 | $264,002 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Backmede or Fairy Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Backmede runs $22,629 a year by car and Fairy Hill $23,029, but most of the $400 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Backmede and Fairy Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,329 in Backmede (Richmond Valley rates (OLG) and $1,329 in Fairy Hill (Richmond Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Backmede and $1,300 in Fairy Hill. 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 Backmede and Fairy Hill?
Backmede carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Fairy Hill carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Backmede and Fairy Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Backmede costs a cumulative $259,416 and Fairy Hill costs $264,002 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Backmede. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Backmede and Fairy Hill suits you better?
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Sources: Richmond Valley rates (OLG and Richmond Valley 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.