Byangum vs Dum Dum: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Byangum and Dum Dum are both Tweed rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 646.5 km and 642.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dum Dum runs $700 a year cheaper than Byangum, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,025.
Over 10 years, Dum Dum costs about $8,000 less to run than Byangum — the same as paying $8,000 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Byangum
Dum Dum
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Byangum | Dum Dum | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,400 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,799 | $23,099 | +$700 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,599 | $7,899 | +$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Byangum | Dum Dum | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,098 | $2,098 | - |
| Unit | $1,679 | $1,679 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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
Dum Dum costs $700 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,025 in favour of Dum Dum.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Byangum carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $8,599 from Byangum versus $7,899 from Dum Dum.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Byangum cumulative | Dum Dum cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,799 | $23,099 | $700 |
| Year 3 | $73,560 | $71,397 | $2,163 |
| Year 5 | $126,352 | $122,636 | $3,716 |
| Year 10 | $272,829 | $264,804 | $8,025 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Byangum or Dum Dum cheaper to live in?
Dum Dum is cheaper to run by car at $23,099 per year versus $23,799 for Byangum, a difference of $700 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. 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?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Byangum and $17,600 from Dum Dum to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Byangum and $2,400 from Dum Dum.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Byangum and Dum Dum?
At 3% annual cost growth, Byangum costs a cumulative $272,829 and Dum Dum costs $264,804 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,025 in favour of Dum Dum. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Byangum and Dum Dum 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: Tweed rates (OLG and Tweed rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.