Clunes vs Eureka, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clunes (Lismore rates (OLG) and Eureka (Byron rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Eureka runs $685 a year cheaper than Clunes, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,853.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,900, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Eureka
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clunes | Eureka | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,534 | $1,649 | -$115 |
| 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 | $2,200 | $1,400 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,234 | $22,549 | +$685 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,234 | $22,549 | +$685 |
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 | Clunes | Eureka | 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, Clunes vs Eureka (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clunes and Eureka differ by $685 a year by car, but $800 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 $115, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Clunes carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $685 per year, $23,234 from Clunes versus $22,549 from Eureka.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Clunes by $115 a year, $1,534 against $1,649.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Eureka by $800 a year, $1,400 against $2,200.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated medium in Clunes against low in Eureka, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clunes cumulative | Eureka cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,234 | $22,549 | $685 |
| Year 3 | $71,814 | $69,697 | $2,117 |
| Year 5 | $123,352 | $119,716 | $3,636 |
| Year 10 | $266,352 | $258,499 | $7,853 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clunes or Eureka cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clunes runs $23,234 a year by car and Eureka $22,549, but most of the $685 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $115. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clunes and Eureka?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Clunes (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Eureka (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Clunes and $1,300 in Eureka. 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 Clunes and Eureka?
Clunes 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. Eureka 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 Clunes and Eureka?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clunes costs a cumulative $266,352 and Eureka costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,853 in favour of Eureka. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clunes and Eureka suits you better?
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Sources: Lismore rates (OLG and Byron 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.