Binna Burra vs Brooklet: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Binna Burra (Byron rates (OLG) and Brooklet (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Brooklet runs $565 a year cheaper than Binna Burra, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,477.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Binna Burra
Brooklet
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Binna Burra | Brooklet | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,384 | +$265 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $1,700 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,149 | $22,584 | +$565 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,349 | $6,784 | +$565 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Binna Burra | Brooklet | 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 — Binna Burra vs Brooklet (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brooklet costs $565 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,477 in favour of Brooklet.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $565 per year, $7,349 from Binna Burra versus $6,784 from Brooklet.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Brooklet by $265 a year, $1,384 against $1,649.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Brooklet by $300 a year, $1,700 against $2,000.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in Binna Burra against low in Brooklet, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.1 in Binna Burra against 6.8 in Brooklet, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Binna Burra cumulative | Brooklet cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,149 | $22,584 | $565 |
| Year 3 | $71,551 | $69,805 | $1,746 |
| Year 5 | $122,901 | $119,902 | $2,999 |
| Year 10 | $265,377 | $258,900 | $6,477 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Binna Burra or Brooklet cheaper to live in?
Brooklet is cheaper to run by car at $22,584 per year versus $23,149 for Binna Burra, a difference of $565 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Binna Burra and Brooklet?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Binna Burra (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,384 in Brooklet (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Binna Burra and $1,300 in Brooklet. 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 Binna Burra and Brooklet?
Binna Burra 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. Brooklet 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Binna Burra and $2,400 from Brooklet.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Binna Burra and Brooklet?
At 3% annual cost growth, Binna Burra costs a cumulative $265,377 and Brooklet costs $258,900 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,477 in favour of Brooklet. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Binna Burra and Brooklet is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.