Byrrill Creek vs Cedar Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Byrrill Creek and Cedar Creek are both Tweed rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cedar Creek runs $400 a year cheaper than Byrrill Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Byrrill Creek
Cedar Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Byrrill Creek | Cedar Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,799 | $1,799 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,699 | $23,299 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,899 | $7,499 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Byrrill Creek | Cedar Creek | 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 — Byrrill Creek vs Cedar Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cedar Creek costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Cedar Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,899 from Byrrill Creek versus $7,499 from Cedar Creek.
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 Cedar Creek by $400 a year, $2,000 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Byrrill Creek against medium in Cedar Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Byrrill Creek cumulative | Cedar Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,699 | $23,299 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $73,251 | $72,015 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $125,821 | $123,698 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $271,682 | $267,097 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Byrrill Creek or Cedar Creek cheaper to live in?
Cedar Creek is cheaper to run by car at $23,299 per year versus $23,699 for Byrrill Creek, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Byrrill Creek and Cedar Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,799 in Byrrill Creek (Tweed rates (OLG) and $1,799 in Cedar Creek (Tweed rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Byrrill Creek and $1,300 in Cedar Creek. 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 Byrrill Creek and Cedar Creek?
Byrrill Creek 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. Cedar Creek 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Byrrill Creek and $2,400 from Cedar Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Byrrill Creek and Cedar Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Byrrill Creek costs a cumulative $271,682 and Cedar Creek costs $267,097 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Cedar Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Byrrill Creek and Cedar Creek 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.