Derrymore vs Iredale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Derrymore and Iredale are both Lockyer Valley Regional Council suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Iredale runs $400 a year cheaper than Derrymore, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Iredale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Derrymore | Iredale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,395 | $1,395 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,478 | $4,678 | +$800 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,478 | $4,678 | +$800 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,400 | $2,800 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,000 | $1,600 | +$400 |
| Total (driving) | $11,173 | $10,773 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,173 | $10,773 | +$400 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Derrymore | Iredale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,265 | $2,135 | +$130 |
| Unit | $1,874 | $1,776 | +$98 |
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, Derrymore vs Iredale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Derrymore and Iredale differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $800, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $800 per year. Derrymore is 21.4 km from Gatton CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $11,173 from Derrymore versus $10,773 from Iredale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,395 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Iredale by $800 a year, $4,678 against $5,478.
- Building insurance favours Derrymore by $400 a year, $2,400 against $2,800.
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 commute distance and the insurance band.
The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Derrymore against 4.5 in Iredale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Derrymore cumulative | Iredale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,173 | $10,773 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $34,535 | $33,298 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $59,319 | $57,195 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $128,086 | $123,500 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Derrymore or Iredale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Derrymore runs $11,173 a year by car and Iredale $10,773, but most of the $400 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $800. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Derrymore and Iredale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,395 in Derrymore (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) and $1,395 in Iredale (Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Derrymore and $1,900 in Iredale. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Derrymore and Iredale?
Derrymore is $5,478 a year to drive to Gatton CBD (ATO 91c/km). Iredale is $4,678 a year to drive to Toowoomba CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Derrymore and Iredale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Derrymore costs a cumulative $128,086 and Iredale costs $123,500 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Iredale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Derrymore and Iredale suits you better?
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Sources: Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council 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.