Codrington vs Ruthven, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Codrington (Richmond Valley rates (OLG) and Ruthven (Lismore rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
The two sit within $205 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years, Codrington costs about $2,400 less to run than Ruthven. That's about $5 a week.
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 →Codrington
Ruthven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Codrington | Ruthven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,329 | $1,534 | -$205 |
| 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 | $2,800 | $2,800 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,629 | $23,834 | -$205 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,629 | $23,834 | -$205 |
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 | Codrington | Ruthven | 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, Codrington vs Ruthven (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Codrington and Ruthven cost within $205 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $2,350, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $205 per year.
On public transport the gap is $205 per year, $23,629 from Codrington versus $23,834 from Ruthven.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Codrington by $205 a year, $1,329 against $1,534.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,800 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 5.6 in Ruthven against 1.6 in Codrington, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Codrington cumulative | Ruthven cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,629 | $23,834 | $205 |
| Year 3 | $73,035 | $73,669 | $634 |
| Year 5 | $125,450 | $126,538 | $1,088 |
| Year 10 | $270,880 | $273,230 | $2,350 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codrington or Ruthven cheaper to live in?
Codrington is cheaper to run by car at $23,629 per year versus $23,834 for Ruthven, a difference of $205 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Codrington and Ruthven?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,329 in Codrington (Richmond Valley rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Ruthven (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Codrington and $1,300 in Ruthven. 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 Codrington and Ruthven?
Codrington 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. Ruthven 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 Codrington and Ruthven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Codrington costs a cumulative $270,880 and Ruthven costs $273,230 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,350 in favour of Codrington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Codrington and Ruthven 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: Richmond Valley rates (OLG and Lismore 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.