Cabbage Tree Island vs Wardell, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell 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.
Cabbage Tree Island runs $300 a year cheaper than Wardell, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wardell
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cabbage Tree Island | Wardell | 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 | $2,150 | $2,450 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,034 | $23,334 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,034 | $23,334 | -$300 |
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 | Cabbage Tree Island | Wardell | 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, Cabbage Tree Island vs Wardell (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell differ by $300 a year by car, but $300 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 $300 per year. Wardell carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $23,034 from Cabbage Tree Island versus $23,334 from Wardell.
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 Cabbage Tree Island by $300 a year, $2,150 against $2,450.
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 Wardell against medium in Cabbage Tree Island, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Cabbage Tree Island against 1 in Wardell, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cabbage Tree Island cumulative | Wardell cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,034 | $23,334 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $71,196 | $72,123 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $122,291 | $123,883 | $1,592 |
| Year 10 | $264,059 | $267,498 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cabbage Tree Island or Wardell cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cabbage Tree Island runs $23,034 a year by car and Wardell $23,334, but most of the $300 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 Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,384 in Cabbage Tree Island (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and $1,384 in Wardell (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cabbage Tree Island and $1,300 in Wardell. 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 Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell?
Cabbage Tree Island 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. Wardell 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 Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cabbage Tree Island costs a cumulative $264,059 and Wardell costs $267,498 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Cabbage Tree Island. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell 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.