Brooklet vs Newrybar, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brooklet and Newrybar are both Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Brooklet runs $950 a year cheaper than Newrybar, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,891.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,900, about $21 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Newrybar
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brooklet | Newrybar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,384 | $1,384 | - |
| 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 | $1,200 | $2,150 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,084 | $23,034 | -$950 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,084 | $23,034 | -$950 |
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 | Brooklet | Newrybar | 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, Brooklet vs Newrybar (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brooklet and Newrybar differ by $950 a year by car, but $950 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 $950 per year. Newrybar carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $22,084 from Brooklet versus $23,034 from Newrybar.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,384 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Brooklet by $950 a year, $1,200 against $2,150.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Newrybar against low in Brooklet, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Newrybar against low in Brooklet, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.1 in Newrybar against 6.8 in Brooklet, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brooklet cumulative | Newrybar cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,084 | $23,034 | $950 |
| Year 3 | $68,259 | $71,196 | $2,937 |
| Year 5 | $117,247 | $122,291 | $5,044 |
| Year 10 | $253,168 | $264,059 | $10,891 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brooklet or Newrybar cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Brooklet runs $22,084 a year by car and Newrybar $23,034, but most of the $950 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 Brooklet and Newrybar?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,384 in Brooklet (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and $1,384 in Newrybar (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Brooklet and $1,300 in Newrybar. 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 Brooklet and Newrybar?
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. Newrybar 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 Brooklet and Newrybar?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brooklet costs a cumulative $253,168 and Newrybar costs $264,059 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,891 in favour of Brooklet. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brooklet and Newrybar suits you better?
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Sources: Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.