Koonyum Range vs Palmwoods, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Koonyum Range and Palmwoods are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $250 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,900, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Palmwoods
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Koonyum Range | Palmwoods | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| 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 | $1,400 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,799 | $22,549 | +$250 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,799 | $22,549 | +$250 |
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 | Koonyum Range | Palmwoods | 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, Koonyum Range vs Palmwoods (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Koonyum Range and Palmwoods differ by $250 a year by car, but $250 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 $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $22,799 from Koonyum Range versus $22,549 from Palmwoods.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Palmwoods by $250 a year, $1,400 against $1,650.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Koonyum Range against medium in Palmwoods, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Koonyum Range cumulative | Palmwoods cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,799 | $22,549 | $250 |
| Year 3 | $70,469 | $69,697 | $772 |
| Year 5 | $121,043 | $119,716 | $1,327 |
| Year 10 | $261,365 | $258,499 | $2,866 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koonyum Range or Palmwoods cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Koonyum Range runs $22,799 a year by car and Palmwoods $22,549, but most of the $250 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 Koonyum Range and Palmwoods?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Koonyum Range (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Palmwoods (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Koonyum Range and $1,300 in Palmwoods. 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 Koonyum Range and Palmwoods?
Koonyum Range 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. Palmwoods 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 Koonyum Range and Palmwoods?
At 3% annual cost growth, Koonyum Range costs a cumulative $261,365 and Palmwoods costs $258,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,866 in favour of Palmwoods. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Koonyum Range and Palmwoods suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
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Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron 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.