Blakebrook vs Leycester: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blakebrook and Leycester are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Leycester runs $650 a year cheaper than Blakebrook, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,451.
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 →Blakebrook
Leycester
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blakebrook | Leycester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,534 | $1,534 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,450 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,134 | $23,484 | +$650 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,334 | $7,684 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Blakebrook | Leycester | 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 — Blakebrook vs Leycester (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Leycester costs $650 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,451 in favour of Leycester.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Blakebrook carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,334 from Blakebrook versus $7,684 from Leycester.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,534 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Leycester by $650 a year, $2,450 against $3,100.
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 high in Blakebrook against medium in Leycester, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blakebrook cumulative | Leycester cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,134 | $23,484 | $650 |
| Year 3 | $74,596 | $72,587 | $2,009 |
| Year 5 | $128,131 | $124,680 | $3,451 |
| Year 10 | $276,669 | $269,218 | $7,451 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blakebrook or Leycester cheaper to live in?
Leycester is cheaper to run by car at $23,484 per year versus $24,134 for Blakebrook, a difference of $650 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blakebrook and Leycester?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Blakebrook (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Leycester (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Blakebrook and $1,300 in Leycester. 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 Blakebrook and Leycester?
Blakebrook 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. Leycester 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 Blakebrook and $2,400 from Leycester.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blakebrook and Leycester?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blakebrook costs a cumulative $276,669 and Leycester costs $269,218 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,451 in favour of Leycester. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blakebrook and Leycester 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.
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Sources: Lismore rates (OLG and Lismore rates (OLG 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.