Howards Grass vs Lismore Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Howards Grass and Lismore Heights are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lismore Heights runs $850 a year cheaper than Howards Grass, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,744.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,700, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lismore Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Howards Grass | Lismore Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,534 | $1,534 | - |
| 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 | $2,800 | $1,950 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,834 | $22,984 | +$850 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,834 | $22,984 | +$850 |
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 | Howards Grass | Lismore Heights | 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, Howards Grass vs Lismore Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Howards Grass and Lismore Heights differ by $850 a year by car, but $850 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 $850 per year. Howards Grass carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $23,834 from Howards Grass versus $22,984 from Lismore Heights.
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 Lismore Heights by $850 a year, $1,950 against $2,800.
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 Howards Grass against medium in Lismore Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Howards Grass against low in Lismore Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Howards Grass cumulative | Lismore Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,834 | $22,984 | $850 |
| Year 3 | $73,669 | $71,041 | $2,628 |
| Year 5 | $126,538 | $122,025 | $4,513 |
| Year 10 | $273,230 | $263,486 | $9,744 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Howards Grass or Lismore Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Howards Grass runs $23,834 a year by car and Lismore Heights $22,984, but most of the $850 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 Howards Grass and Lismore Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Howards Grass (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Lismore Heights (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Howards Grass and $1,300 in Lismore Heights. 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 Howards Grass and Lismore Heights?
Howards Grass 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. Lismore Heights 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 Howards Grass and Lismore Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Howards Grass costs a cumulative $273,230 and Lismore Heights costs $263,486 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,744 in favour of Lismore Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Howards Grass and Lismore Heights suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.