Gumma vs North Macksville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gumma and North Macksville are both Nambucca Valley rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 45.7 km and 45.8 km from Coffs Harbour CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
North Macksville runs $305 a year cheaper than Gumma, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,497.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Macksville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gumma | North Macksville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,175 | $1,175 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,847 | $6,842 | +$5 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,847 | $6,842 | +$5 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $2,350 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,972 | $11,667 | +$305 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,972 | $11,667 | +$305 |
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 | Gumma | North Macksville | 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, Gumma vs North Macksville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gumma and North Macksville differ by $305 a year by car, but $300 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 $5, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Gumma carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $305 per year, $11,972 from Gumma versus $11,667 from North Macksville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,175 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Macksville by $5 a year, $6,842 against $6,847.
- Building insurance favours North Macksville by $300 a year, $2,350 against $2,650.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Gumma against medium in North Macksville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gumma cumulative | North Macksville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,972 | $11,667 | $305 |
| Year 3 | $37,004 | $36,062 | $942 |
| Year 5 | $63,561 | $61,942 | $1,619 |
| Year 10 | $137,246 | $133,749 | $3,497 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gumma or North Macksville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gumma runs $11,972 a year by car and North Macksville $11,667, but most of the $305 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $5. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gumma and North Macksville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,175 in Gumma (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG) and $1,175 in North Macksville (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Gumma and $1,300 in North Macksville. 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 Gumma and North Macksville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,847 from Gumma and $6,842 from North Macksville to Coffs Harbour 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 Gumma and North Macksville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gumma costs a cumulative $137,246 and North Macksville costs $133,749 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,497 in favour of North Macksville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gumma and North Macksville suits you better?
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Sources: Nambucca Valley rates (OLG and Nambucca Valley 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.