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Council rates: 2026-27 · Water & commute: 2025-26 · Sources: council websites, QUU, ATO, ABS

Mcleods Shoot vs Skinners Shoot: true annual running costs compared (2026)

Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks

Mcleods Shoot and Skinners Shoot are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 620.6 km and 622.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.

The verdict
Mcleods Shoot is the cheaper suburb to live in

Mcleods Shoot runs $1,100 a year cheaper than Skinners Shoot, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,610.

$1,100difference per year
$12,610over 10 years
home insurancebiggest cost driver

Over 10 years, Mcleods Shoot costs about $12,600 less to run than Skinners Shoot — the same as paying $12,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.

Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →

Mcleods Shoot

2479 · Byron rates (OLG · 620.6 km from CBD
$22,549
Total annual cost (driving)
Public transport total$7,349
School score8.2/10
Flood & fire riskIn report

Skinners Shoot

2481 · Byron rates (OLG · 622.9 km from CBD
$23,649
Total annual cost (driving)
Public transport total$8,449
School score7.7/10
Flood & fire riskIn report

Annual cost breakdown

CategoryMcleods ShootSkinners ShootDifference
Council rates$1,649$1,649-
Water & sewerage$1,300$1,300-
Commute (driving)$17,600$17,600-
Commute (public transport)$2,400$2,400-
Home insurance$2,000$3,100-$1,100
Body corporate (unit)$1,500$1,500-
Total (driving)$22,549$23,649-$1,100
Total (public transport)$7,349$8,449-$1,100

Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).

Estimated electricity cost typical 2-person household
DwellingMcleods ShootSkinners ShootDifference
House$2,098$2,098-
Unit$1,679$1,679-

Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.

Cost breakdown chart

Annual cost breakdown — Mcleods Shoot vs Skinners Shoot (2026-27)

What the numbers show

Mcleods Shoot costs $1,100 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,610 in favour of Mcleods Shoot.

The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Skinners Shoot carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.

On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $7,349 from Mcleods Shoot versus $8,449 from Skinners Shoot.

10-year cumulative cost projection

YearMcleods Shoot cumulativeSkinners Shoot cumulativeDifference
Year 1$22,549$23,649$1,100
Year 3$69,697$73,097$3,400
Year 5$119,716$125,556$5,840
Year 10$258,499$271,109$12,610

Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Is Mcleods Shoot or Skinners Shoot cheaper to live in?

    Mcleods Shoot is cheaper to run by car at $22,549 per year versus $23,649 for Skinners Shoot, a difference of $1,100 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.

  2. What are council rates in Mcleods Shoot and Skinners Shoot?

    Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Mcleods Shoot (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Skinners Shoot (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mcleods Shoot and $1,300 in Skinners Shoot. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.

  3. How does the commute cost compare between Mcleods Shoot and Skinners Shoot?

    Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Mcleods Shoot and $17,600 from Skinners Shoot to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mcleods Shoot and $2,400 from Skinners Shoot.

  4. What is the 10-year cost difference between Mcleods Shoot and Skinners Shoot?

    At 3% annual cost growth, Mcleods Shoot costs a cumulative $258,499 and Skinners Shoot costs $271,109 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,610 in favour of Mcleods Shoot. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.

Which of Mcleods Shoot and Skinners Shoot 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.

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Related comparisons

Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.