Marom Creek vs Rous Mill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Marom Creek (Lismore rates (OLG) and Rous Mill (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Rous Mill runs $1,450 a year cheaper than Marom Creek, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $16,623.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $16,600, about $32 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rous Mill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Marom Creek | Rous Mill | 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 | $2,800 | $1,500 | +$1,300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,834 | $22,384 | +$1,450 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,834 | $22,384 | +$1,450 |
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 | Marom Creek | Rous Mill | 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, Marom Creek vs Rous Mill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Marom Creek and Rous Mill differ by $1,450 a year by car, but $1,300 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 $1,300 per year. Marom Creek carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,450 per year, $23,834 from Marom Creek versus $22,384 from Rous Mill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rous Mill 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 Mill by $1,300 a year, $1,500 against $2,800.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Marom Creek against medium in Rous Mill, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Marom Creek against low in Rous Mill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Marom Creek cumulative | Rous Mill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,834 | $22,384 | $1,450 |
| Year 3 | $73,669 | $69,187 | $4,482 |
| Year 5 | $126,538 | $118,840 | $7,698 |
| Year 10 | $273,230 | $256,607 | $16,623 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marom Creek or Rous Mill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Marom Creek runs $23,834 a year by car and Rous Mill $22,384, but most of the $1,450 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 Marom Creek and Rous Mill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,534 in Marom Creek (Lismore rates (OLG) and $1,384 in Rous Mill (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Marom Creek and $1,300 in Rous Mill. 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 Marom Creek and Rous Mill?
Marom Creek 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 Mill 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 Marom Creek and Rous Mill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Marom Creek costs a cumulative $273,230 and Rous Mill costs $256,607 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $16,623 in favour of Rous Mill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Marom Creek and Rous Mill 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.