Ewingsdale vs Mcleods Shoot: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ewingsdale and Mcleods Shoot are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 622.5 km and 620.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mcleods Shoot runs $1,100 a year cheaper than Ewingsdale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.
Over 10 years, Mcleods Shoot costs about $12,600 less to run than Ewingsdale — the same as paying $12,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Mcleods Shoot
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ewingsdale | Mcleods Shoot | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,000 | +$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,649 | $22,549 | +$1,100 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,449 | $7,349 | +$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Ewingsdale | Mcleods Shoot | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,098 | $2,098 | - |
| Unit | $1,679 | $1,679 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Ewingsdale vs Mcleods Shoot (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mcleods Shoot costs $1,100 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,610 in favour of Mcleods Shoot.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Ewingsdale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $8,449 from Ewingsdale versus $7,349 from Mcleods Shoot.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ewingsdale cumulative | Mcleods Shoot cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,649 | $22,549 | $1,100 |
| Year 3 | $73,097 | $69,697 | $3,400 |
| Year 5 | $125,556 | $119,716 | $5,840 |
| Year 10 | $271,109 | $258,499 | $12,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ewingsdale or Mcleods Shoot cheaper to live in?
Mcleods Shoot is cheaper to run by car at $22,549 per year versus $23,649 for Ewingsdale, a difference of $1,100 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ewingsdale and Mcleods Shoot?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Ewingsdale (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Mcleods Shoot (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ewingsdale and $1,300 in Mcleods Shoot. 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 Ewingsdale and Mcleods Shoot?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Ewingsdale and $17,600 from Mcleods Shoot to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ewingsdale and $2,400 from Mcleods Shoot.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ewingsdale and Mcleods Shoot?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ewingsdale costs a cumulative $271,109 and Mcleods Shoot costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of Mcleods Shoot. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ewingsdale and Mcleods Shoot is best to actually live in?
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Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.