Eureka vs Rosebank, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Eureka (Byron rates (OLG) and Rosebank (Lismore rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
The two sit within $285 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 $3,300, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rosebank
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Eureka | Rosebank | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,649 | $1,534 | +$115 |
| 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 | $1,400 | $1,800 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,549 | $22,834 | -$285 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,549 | $22,834 | -$285 |
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 | Eureka | Rosebank | 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, Eureka vs Rosebank (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eureka and Rosebank differ by $285 a year by car, but $400 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 $115, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $285 per year, $22,549 from Eureka versus $22,834 from Rosebank.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rosebank by $115 a year, $1,534 against $1,649.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Eureka by $400 a year, $1,400 against $1,800.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.1 in Eureka against 5.7 in Rosebank, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Eureka cumulative | Rosebank cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,549 | $22,834 | $285 |
| Year 3 | $69,697 | $70,578 | $881 |
| Year 5 | $119,716 | $121,229 | $1,513 |
| Year 10 | $258,499 | $261,766 | $3,267 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eureka or Rosebank cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Eureka runs $22,549 a year by car and Rosebank $22,834, but most of the $285 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $115. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Eureka and Rosebank?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Eureka (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Rosebank (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Eureka and $1,300 in Rosebank. 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 Eureka and Rosebank?
Eureka 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. Rosebank 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 Eureka and Rosebank?
At 3% annual cost growth, Eureka costs a cumulative $258,499 and Rosebank costs $261,766 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,267 in favour of Eureka. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Eureka and Rosebank suits you better?
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Sources: Byron 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.