Donnellyville vs Macksville: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Donnellyville and Macksville are both Nambucca Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Donnellyville runs $650 a year cheaper than Macksville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,452.
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 →Donnellyville
Macksville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Donnellyville | Macksville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,175 | $1,175 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $3,100 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,125 | $23,775 | -$650 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,325 | $7,975 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Donnellyville | Macksville | 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 — Donnellyville vs Macksville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Donnellyville costs $650 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,452 in favour of Donnellyville.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Macksville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,325 from Donnellyville versus $7,975 from Macksville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,175 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Donnellyville by $650 a year, $2,450 against $3,100.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Macksville against medium in Donnellyville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Donnellyville cumulative | Macksville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,125 | $23,775 | $650 |
| Year 3 | $71,477 | $73,486 | $2,009 |
| Year 5 | $122,774 | $126,225 | $3,451 |
| Year 10 | $265,102 | $272,554 | $7,452 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Donnellyville or Macksville cheaper to live in?
Donnellyville is cheaper to run by car at $23,125 per year versus $23,775 for Macksville, a difference of $650 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Donnellyville and Macksville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,175 in Donnellyville (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG) and $1,175 in Macksville (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Donnellyville and $1,300 in Macksville. 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 Donnellyville and Macksville?
Donnellyville 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. Macksville 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 Donnellyville and $2,400 from Macksville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Donnellyville and Macksville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Donnellyville costs a cumulative $265,102 and Macksville costs $272,554 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,452 in favour of Donnellyville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Donnellyville and Macksville 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: Nambucca Valley rates (OLG and Nambucca Valley 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.