Howards Grass vs Tullera, 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 Tullera are both Lismore rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tullera runs $1,000 a year cheaper than Howards Grass, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,464.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,500, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tullera
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Howards Grass | Tullera | 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 | $1,800 | +$1,000 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,834 | $22,834 | +$1,000 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,834 | $22,834 | +$1,000 |
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 | Tullera | 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 Tullera (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Howards Grass and Tullera differ by $1,000 a year by car, but $1,000 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 $1,000 per year. Howards Grass carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,000 per year, $23,834 from Howards Grass versus $22,834 from Tullera.
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 Tullera by $1,000 a year, $1,800 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 low in Tullera, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Tullera against 5.3 in Howards Grass, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Howards Grass cumulative | Tullera cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,834 | $22,834 | $1,000 |
| Year 3 | $73,669 | $70,578 | $3,091 |
| Year 5 | $126,538 | $121,229 | $5,309 |
| Year 10 | $273,230 | $261,766 | $11,464 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Howards Grass or Tullera cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Howards Grass runs $23,834 a year by car and Tullera $22,834, but most of the $1,000 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 Tullera?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Howards Grass (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,534 in Tullera (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Howards Grass and $1,300 in Tullera. 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 Tullera?
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. Tullera 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 Tullera?
At 3% annual cost growth, Howards Grass costs a cumulative $273,230 and Tullera costs $261,766 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,464 in favour of Tullera. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Howards Grass and Tullera 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.