Goonengerry vs Repentance Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Goonengerry (Byron rates (OLG) and Repentance Creek (Lismore rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Goonengerry runs $385 a year cheaper than Repentance Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,414.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,400, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Repentance Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Goonengerry | Repentance Creek | 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 | $1,650 | $2,150 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,799 | $23,184 | -$385 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,799 | $23,184 | -$385 |
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 | Goonengerry | Repentance Creek | 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, Goonengerry vs Repentance Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Goonengerry and Repentance Creek differ by $385 a year by car, but $500 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 $500 per year.
On public transport the gap is $385 per year, $22,799 from Goonengerry versus $23,184 from Repentance Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Repentance Creek 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 Goonengerry by $500 a year, $1,650 against $2,150.
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 7.2 in Goonengerry against 6.1 in Repentance Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Goonengerry cumulative | Repentance Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,799 | $23,184 | $385 |
| Year 3 | $70,469 | $71,659 | $1,190 |
| Year 5 | $121,043 | $123,087 | $2,044 |
| Year 10 | $261,365 | $265,779 | $4,414 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Goonengerry or Repentance Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Goonengerry runs $22,799 a year by car and Repentance Creek $23,184, but most of the $385 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 Goonengerry and Repentance Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Goonengerry (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Repentance Creek (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Goonengerry and $1,300 in Repentance Creek. 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 Goonengerry and Repentance Creek?
Goonengerry 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. Repentance Creek 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 Goonengerry and Repentance Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Goonengerry costs a cumulative $261,365 and Repentance Creek costs $265,779 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,414 in favour of Goonengerry. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Goonengerry and Repentance Creek 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.