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.
The two sit within $200 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,300, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pimlico Island
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Empire Vale | Pimlico Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,384 | $1,384 | - |
| 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 | $2,150 | $1,950 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,034 | $22,834 | +$200 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,034 | $22,834 | +$200 |
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 | 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
Empire Vale and Pimlico Island differ by $200 a year by car, but $200 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 $200 per year. Empire Vale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $23,034 from Empire Vale versus $22,834 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 $200 a year, $1,950 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 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 | $23,034 | $22,834 | $200 |
| Year 3 | $71,196 | $70,578 | $618 |
| Year 5 | $122,291 | $121,229 | $1,062 |
| Year 10 | $264,059 | $261,766 | $2,293 |
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?
Neither is named cheaper. Empire Vale runs $23,034 a year by car and Pimlico Island $22,834, but most of the $200 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 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Empire Vale and Pimlico Island?
At 3% annual cost growth, Empire Vale costs a cumulative $264,059 and Pimlico Island costs $261,766 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,293 in favour of Pimlico Island. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Empire Vale and Pimlico Island suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.