Dungarubba vs Rileys Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dungarubba (Lismore rates (OLG) and Rileys Hill (Richmond Valley rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Rileys Hill runs $855 a year cheaper than Dungarubba, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,802.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,800, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rileys Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dungarubba | Rileys Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,534 | $1,329 | +$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 | $2,150 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,834 | $22,979 | +$855 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,834 | $22,979 | +$855 |
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 | Dungarubba | Rileys Hill | 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, Dungarubba vs Rileys Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dungarubba and Rileys Hill differ by $855 a year by car, but $650 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 $205, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Dungarubba carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $855 per year, $23,834 from Dungarubba versus $22,979 from Rileys Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rileys Hill 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 favours Rileys Hill by $650 a year, $2,150 against $2,800.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dungarubba cumulative | Rileys Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,834 | $22,979 | $855 |
| Year 3 | $73,669 | $71,026 | $2,643 |
| Year 5 | $126,538 | $121,999 | $4,539 |
| Year 10 | $273,230 | $263,428 | $9,802 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dungarubba or Rileys Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dungarubba runs $23,834 a year by car and Rileys Hill $22,979, but most of the $855 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $205. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dungarubba and Rileys Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Dungarubba (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,329 in Rileys Hill (Richmond Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Dungarubba and $1,300 in Rileys Hill. 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 Dungarubba and Rileys Hill?
Dungarubba 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. Rileys Hill 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 Dungarubba and Rileys Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dungarubba costs a cumulative $273,230 and Rileys Hill costs $263,428 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,802 in favour of Rileys Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dungarubba and Rileys Hill suits you better?
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Sources: Lismore rates (OLG and Richmond Valley 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.