Girards Hill vs South Lismore: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Girards Hill and South Lismore are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Girards Hill runs $950 a year cheaper than South Lismore, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,890.
Over 10 years, Girards Hill costs about $10,900 less to run than South Lismore — the same as paying $10,900 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Girards Hill
South Lismore
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Girards Hill | South Lismore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,534 | $1,534 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,150 | $3,100 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,184 | $24,134 | -$950 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,384 | $8,334 | -$950 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Girards Hill | South Lismore | 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 — Girards Hill vs South Lismore (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Girards Hill costs $950 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,890 in favour of Girards Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year. South Lismore carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $7,384 from Girards Hill versus $8,334 from South Lismore.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,534 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Girards Hill by $950 a year, $2,150 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.
Flood risk is rated high in South Lismore against medium in Girards Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in South Lismore against low in Girards Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.8 in Girards Hill against 3.5 in South Lismore, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Girards Hill cumulative | South Lismore cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,184 | $24,134 | $950 |
| Year 3 | $71,659 | $74,596 | $2,937 |
| Year 5 | $123,087 | $128,131 | $5,044 |
| Year 10 | $265,779 | $276,669 | $10,890 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Girards Hill or South Lismore cheaper to live in?
Girards Hill is cheaper to run by car at $23,184 per year versus $24,134 for South Lismore, a difference of $950 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Girards Hill and South Lismore?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Girards Hill (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in South Lismore (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Girards Hill and $1,300 in South Lismore. 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 Girards Hill and South Lismore?
Girards Hill 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. South Lismore 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 Girards Hill and $2,400 from South Lismore.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Girards Hill and South Lismore?
At 3% annual cost growth, Girards Hill costs a cumulative $265,779 and South Lismore costs $276,669 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,890 in favour of Girards Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Girards Hill and South Lismore 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: Lismore 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.