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 $600 a year cheaper than McLeans Ridges, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,879.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wollongbar
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | McLeans Ridges | Wollongbar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,384 | $1,384 | - |
| 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 | $1,800 | $1,200 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,684 | $22,084 | +$600 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,684 | $22,084 | +$600 |
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 | 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
McLeans Ridges and Wollongbar differ by $600 a year by car, but $600 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 $600 per year.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $22,684 from McLeans Ridges versus $22,084 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 $600 a year, $1,200 against $1,800.
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 | $22,684 | $22,084 | $600 |
| Year 3 | $70,114 | $68,259 | $1,855 |
| Year 5 | $120,432 | $117,247 | $3,185 |
| Year 10 | $260,047 | $253,168 | $6,879 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is McLeans Ridges or Wollongbar cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. McLeans Ridges runs $22,684 a year by car and Wollongbar $22,084, but most of the $600 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 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between McLeans Ridges and Wollongbar?
At 3% annual cost growth, McLeans Ridges costs a cumulative $260,047 and Wollongbar costs $253,168 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,879 in favour of Wollongbar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of McLeans Ridges and Wollongbar suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.