Lindendale vs Rous, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lindendale (Lismore rates (OLG) and Rous (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Rous runs $500 a year cheaper than Lindendale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,732.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,700, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rous
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lindendale | Rous | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,534 | $1,384 | +$150 |
| 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 | $1,550 | $1,200 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,584 | $22,084 | +$500 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,584 | $22,084 | +$500 |
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 | Lindendale | Rous | 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, Lindendale vs Rous (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lindendale and Rous differ by $500 a year by car, but $350 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 $150, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $22,584 from Lindendale versus $22,084 from Rous.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rous by $150 a year, $1,384 against $1,534.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Rous by $350 a year, $1,200 against $1,550.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lindendale cumulative | Rous cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,584 | $22,084 | $500 |
| Year 3 | $69,805 | $68,259 | $1,546 |
| Year 5 | $119,902 | $117,247 | $2,655 |
| Year 10 | $258,900 | $253,168 | $5,732 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lindendale or Rous cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lindendale runs $22,584 a year by car and Rous $22,084, but most of the $500 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $150. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lindendale and Rous?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Lindendale (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,384 in Rous (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Lindendale and $1,300 in Rous. 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 Lindendale and Rous?
Lindendale 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. Rous 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 Lindendale and Rous?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lindendale costs a cumulative $258,900 and Rous costs $253,168 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,732 in favour of Rous. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lindendale and Rous suits you better?
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Sources: Lismore rates (OLG and Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in 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.