Byangum vs Dum Dum, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Byangum and Dum Dum are both Tweed rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dum Dum runs $550 a year cheaper than Byangum, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,305.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,300, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Byangum
Dum Dum
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Byangum | Dum Dum | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| 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 | $2,400 | $1,850 | +$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,699 | $23,149 | +$550 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,699 | $23,149 | +$550 |
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 | Byangum | Dum Dum | 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, Byangum vs Dum Dum (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Byangum and Dum Dum differ by $550 a year by car, but $550 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 $550 per year. Byangum carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $23,699 from Byangum versus $23,149 from Dum Dum.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,799 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Dum Dum by $550 a year, $1,850 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Byangum against low in Dum Dum, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Dum Dum against medium in Byangum, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Byangum cumulative | Dum Dum cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,699 | $23,149 | $550 |
| Year 3 | $73,251 | $71,551 | $1,700 |
| Year 5 | $125,821 | $122,901 | $2,920 |
| Year 10 | $271,682 | $265,377 | $6,305 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Byangum or Dum Dum cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Byangum runs $23,699 a year by car and Dum Dum $23,149, but most of the $550 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 Byangum and Dum Dum?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,799 in Byangum (Tweed rates (OLG) and $1,799 in Dum Dum (Tweed rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Byangum and $1,300 in Dum Dum. 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 Byangum and Dum Dum?
Byangum 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. Dum Dum 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 Byangum and Dum Dum?
At 3% annual cost growth, Byangum costs a cumulative $271,682 and Dum Dum costs $265,377 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,305 in favour of Dum Dum. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Byangum and Dum Dum suits you better?
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: Tweed rates (OLG and Tweed 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.