Ewingsdale vs McLeods Shoot, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ewingsdale and McLeods Shoot are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
McLeods Shoot runs $750 a year cheaper than Ewingsdale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,598.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,600, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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McLeods Shoot
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ewingsdale | McLeods Shoot | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| 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 | $1,400 | +$750 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,299 | $22,549 | +$750 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,299 | $22,549 | +$750 |
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 | Ewingsdale | McLeods Shoot | 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, Ewingsdale vs McLeods Shoot (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ewingsdale and McLeods Shoot differ by $750 a year by car, but $750 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 $750 per year. Ewingsdale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $750 per year, $23,299 from Ewingsdale versus $22,549 from McLeods Shoot.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours McLeods Shoot by $750 a year, $1,400 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Ewingsdale against low in McLeods Shoot, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ewingsdale cumulative | McLeods Shoot cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,299 | $22,549 | $750 |
| Year 3 | $72,015 | $69,697 | $2,318 |
| Year 5 | $123,698 | $119,716 | $3,982 |
| Year 10 | $267,097 | $258,499 | $8,598 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ewingsdale or McLeods Shoot cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ewingsdale runs $23,299 a year by car and McLeods Shoot $22,549, but most of the $750 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 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?
Ewingsdale 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. McLeods Shoot 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 Ewingsdale and McLeods Shoot?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ewingsdale costs a cumulative $267,097 and McLeods Shoot costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,598 in favour of McLeods Shoot. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ewingsdale and McLeods Shoot suits you better?
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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 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.