Bora Ridge vs Bungawalbin, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin are both Richmond Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bungawalbin runs $700 a year cheaper than Bora Ridge, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,024.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Bungawalbin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bora Ridge | Bungawalbin | 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 | $3,150 | $2,450 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,979 | $23,279 | +$700 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,979 | $23,279 | +$700 |
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 | Bora Ridge | Bungawalbin | 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, Bora Ridge vs Bungawalbin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin differ by $700 a year by car, but $700 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 $700 per year. Bora Ridge carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $23,979 from Bora Ridge versus $23,279 from Bungawalbin.
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 Bungawalbin by $700 a year, $2,450 against $3,150.
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.
The catchment state school scores 4.1 in Bungawalbin against 1.6 in Bora Ridge, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bora Ridge cumulative | Bungawalbin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,979 | $23,279 | $700 |
| Year 3 | $74,117 | $71,953 | $2,164 |
| Year 5 | $127,308 | $123,591 | $3,717 |
| Year 10 | $274,892 | $266,868 | $8,024 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bora Ridge or Bungawalbin cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bora Ridge runs $23,979 a year by car and Bungawalbin $23,279, but most of the $700 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 Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,329 in Bora Ridge (Richmond Valley rates (OLG) and $1,329 in Bungawalbin (Richmond Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bora Ridge and $1,300 in Bungawalbin. 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 Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin?
Bora Ridge 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. Bungawalbin 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 Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bora Ridge costs a cumulative $274,892 and Bungawalbin costs $266,868 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,024 in favour of Bungawalbin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bora Ridge and Bungawalbin 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.