Dorroughby vs Whian Whian, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dorroughby and Whian Whian are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dorroughby runs $350 a year cheaper than Whian Whian, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,013.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Whian Whian
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dorroughby | Whian Whian | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,534 | $1,534 | - |
| 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 | $1,800 | $2,150 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,834 | $23,184 | -$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,834 | $23,184 | -$350 |
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 | Dorroughby | Whian Whian | 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, Dorroughby vs Whian Whian (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dorroughby and Whian Whian differ by $350 a year by car, but $350 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 $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $22,834 from Dorroughby versus $23,184 from Whian Whian.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,534 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Dorroughby by $350 a year, $1,800 against $2,150.
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 Whian Whian against medium in Dorroughby, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.3 in Whian Whian against 5.7 in Dorroughby, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dorroughby cumulative | Whian Whian cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,834 | $23,184 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $70,578 | $71,659 | $1,081 |
| Year 5 | $121,229 | $123,087 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $261,766 | $265,779 | $4,013 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dorroughby or Whian Whian cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dorroughby runs $22,834 a year by car and Whian Whian $23,184, but most of the $350 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 Dorroughby and Whian Whian?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Dorroughby (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Whian Whian (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Dorroughby and $1,300 in Whian Whian. 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 Dorroughby and Whian Whian?
Dorroughby 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. Whian Whian 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 Dorroughby and Whian Whian?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dorroughby costs a cumulative $261,766 and Whian Whian costs $265,779 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,013 in favour of Dorroughby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dorroughby and Whian Whian suits you better?
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Sources: Lismore 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.