Grantham vs Ringwood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Grantham and Ringwood are both Lockyer Valley Regional Council suburbs, sitting 9 km and 6.1 km from Gatton CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Ringwood runs $2,022 a year cheaper than Grantham, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $23,180.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $23,200, about $45 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Ringwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Grantham | Ringwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,395 | $1,395 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,791 | $1,969 | +$822 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,791 | $1,969 | +$822 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,700 | $2,500 | +$1,200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,400 | $1,500 | -$100 |
| Total (driving) | $9,786 | $7,764 | +$2,022 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,786 | $7,764 | +$2,022 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Grantham | Ringwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Grantham vs Ringwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grantham and Ringwood differ by $2,022 a year by car, but $1,200 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 $822, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,200 per year. Grantham carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $2,022 per year, $9,786 from Grantham versus $7,764 from Ringwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,395 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ringwood by $822 a year, $1,969 against $2,791.
- Building insurance favours Ringwood by $1,200 a year, $2,500 against $3,700.
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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Grantham against low in Ringwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Grantham cumulative | Ringwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,786 | $7,764 | $2,022 |
| Year 3 | $30,248 | $23,998 | $6,250 |
| Year 5 | $51,955 | $41,220 | $10,735 |
| Year 10 | $112,186 | $89,006 | $23,180 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grantham or Ringwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Grantham runs $9,786 a year by car and Ringwood $7,764, but most of the $2,022 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $822. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Grantham and Ringwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,395 in Grantham (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) and $1,395 in Ringwood (Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Grantham and $1,900 in Ringwood. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Grantham and Ringwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,791 from Grantham and $1,969 from Ringwood to Gatton CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Grantham and Ringwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Grantham costs a cumulative $112,186 and Ringwood costs $89,006 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $23,180 in favour of Ringwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Grantham and Ringwood suits you better?
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Sources: Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council 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.