Blue Knob vs Stony Chute: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blue Knob and Stony Chute are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Stony Chute runs $400 a year cheaper than Blue Knob, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Blue Knob
Stony Chute
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blue Knob | Stony Chute | 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 | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,434 | $23,034 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,634 | $7,234 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Blue Knob | Stony Chute | 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 — Blue Knob vs Stony Chute (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Stony Chute costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Stony Chute.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,634 from Blue Knob versus $7,234 from Stony Chute.
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 Stony Chute by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Blue Knob against medium in Stony Chute, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blue Knob cumulative | Stony Chute cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,434 | $23,034 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $72,432 | $71,196 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $124,414 | $122,291 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $268,645 | $264,059 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Knob or Stony Chute cheaper to live in?
Stony Chute is cheaper to run by car at $23,034 per year versus $23,434 for Blue Knob, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blue Knob and Stony Chute?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Blue Knob (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Stony Chute (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Blue Knob and $1,300 in Stony Chute. 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 Blue Knob and Stony Chute?
Blue Knob 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. Stony Chute 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 Blue Knob and $2,400 from Stony Chute.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blue Knob and Stony Chute?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blue Knob costs a cumulative $268,645 and Stony Chute costs $264,059 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Stony Chute. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blue Knob and Stony Chute 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: 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.