Empire Vale vs Pimlico Island: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Empire Vale and Pimlico Island are both Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pimlico Island runs $300 a year cheaper than Empire Vale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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 →Empire Vale
Pimlico Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Empire Vale | Pimlico Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,384 | $1,384 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,984 | $23,684 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,184 | $7,884 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Empire Vale | Pimlico Island | 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 — Empire Vale vs Pimlico Island (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Pimlico Island costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Pimlico Island.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Empire Vale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,184 from Empire Vale versus $7,884 from Pimlico Island.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,384 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Pimlico Island by $300 a year, $2,800 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Empire Vale against low in Pimlico Island, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Empire Vale cumulative | Pimlico Island cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,984 | $23,684 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $74,132 | $73,205 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $127,334 | $125,742 | $1,592 |
| Year 10 | $274,950 | $271,511 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Empire Vale or Pimlico Island cheaper to live in?
Pimlico Island is cheaper to run by car at $23,684 per year versus $23,984 for Empire Vale, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Empire Vale and Pimlico Island?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,384 in Empire Vale (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and $1,384 in Pimlico Island (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Empire Vale and $1,300 in Pimlico Island. 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 Empire Vale and Pimlico Island?
Empire Vale 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. Pimlico Island 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 Empire Vale and $2,400 from Pimlico Island.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Empire Vale and Pimlico Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Empire Vale costs a cumulative $274,950 and Pimlico Island costs $271,511 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Pimlico Island. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Empire Vale and Pimlico Island 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: Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in and Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in 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.