Mcleans Ridges vs Wollongbar: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mcleans Ridges and Wollongbar are both Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wollongbar runs $300 a year cheaper than Mcleans Ridges, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Mcleans Ridges
Wollongbar
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mcleans Ridges | Wollongbar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,384 | $1,384 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $1,700 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,884 | $22,584 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,084 | $6,784 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Mcleans Ridges | Wollongbar | 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 — Mcleans Ridges vs Wollongbar (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Wollongbar costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Wollongbar.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,084 from Mcleans Ridges versus $6,784 from Wollongbar.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,384 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Wollongbar by $300 a year, $1,700 against $2,000.
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 medium in Mcleans Ridges against low in Wollongbar, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.9 in Mcleans Ridges against 6.7 in Wollongbar, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mcleans Ridges cumulative | Wollongbar cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,884 | $22,584 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $70,732 | $69,805 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $121,494 | $119,902 | $1,592 |
| Year 10 | $262,339 | $258,900 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mcleans Ridges or Wollongbar cheaper to live in?
Wollongbar is cheaper to run by car at $22,584 per year versus $22,884 for Mcleans Ridges, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mcleans Ridges and Wollongbar?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,384 in Mcleans Ridges (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and $1,384 in Wollongbar (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mcleans Ridges and $1,300 in Wollongbar. 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 Mcleans Ridges and Wollongbar?
Mcleans Ridges 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. Wollongbar 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Mcleans Ridges and $2,400 from Wollongbar.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mcleans Ridges and Wollongbar?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mcleans Ridges costs a cumulative $262,339 and Wollongbar costs $258,900 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Wollongbar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mcleans Ridges and Wollongbar is best to actually live in?
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: Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.