Macksville vs Way Way, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Macksville and Way Way are both Nambucca Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $200 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 $2,300, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Macksville
Way Way
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Macksville | Way Way | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,175 | $1,175 | - |
| 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 | $2,350 | $2,150 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,025 | $22,825 | +$200 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,025 | $22,825 | +$200 |
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 | Macksville | Way Way | 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, Macksville vs Way Way (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Macksville and Way Way differ by $200 a year by car, but $200 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 $200 per year. Macksville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $23,025 from Macksville versus $22,825 from Way Way.
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 is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Way Way by $200 a year, $2,150 against $2,350.
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 Macksville against medium in Way Way, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Way Way against medium in Macksville, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Way Way against 4.1 in Macksville, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Macksville cumulative | Way Way cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,025 | $22,825 | $200 |
| Year 3 | $71,168 | $70,550 | $618 |
| Year 5 | $122,243 | $121,181 | $1,062 |
| Year 10 | $263,956 | $261,663 | $2,293 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Macksville or Way Way cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Macksville runs $23,025 a year by car and Way Way $22,825, but most of the $200 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 Macksville and Way Way?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,175 in Macksville (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG) and $1,175 in Way Way (Nambucca Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Macksville and $1,300 in Way Way. 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 Macksville and Way Way?
Macksville 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. Way Way 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 Macksville and Way Way?
At 3% annual cost growth, Macksville costs a cumulative $263,956 and Way Way costs $261,663 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,293 in favour of Way Way. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Macksville and Way Way 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.
Related comparisons
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.