Bulyeroi vs Spring Plains, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bulyeroi and Spring Plains are both Narrabri rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bulyeroi runs $400 a year cheaper than Spring Plains, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Spring Plains
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bulyeroi | Spring Plains | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,178 | $1,178 | - |
| 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 | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,128 | $22,528 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,128 | $22,528 | -$400 |
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 | Bulyeroi | Spring Plains | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, Bulyeroi vs Spring Plains (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bulyeroi and Spring Plains differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $400 per year. Spring Plains carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $22,128 from Bulyeroi versus $22,528 from Spring Plains.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,178 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Bulyeroi by $400 a year, $1,450 against $1,850.
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 Spring Plains against medium in Bulyeroi, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bulyeroi cumulative | Spring Plains cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,128 | $22,528 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $68,395 | $69,632 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $117,481 | $119,604 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $253,673 | $258,258 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulyeroi or Spring Plains cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bulyeroi runs $22,128 a year by car and Spring Plains $22,528, but most of the $400 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 Bulyeroi and Spring Plains?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,178 in Bulyeroi (Narrabri rates (OLG) and $1,178 in Spring Plains (Narrabri rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bulyeroi and $1,300 in Spring Plains. 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 Bulyeroi and Spring Plains?
Bulyeroi 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. Spring Plains 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 Bulyeroi and Spring Plains?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bulyeroi costs a cumulative $253,673 and Spring Plains costs $258,258 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Bulyeroi. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bulyeroi and Spring Plains suits you better?
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Sources: Narrabri rates (OLG and Narrabri 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.