McLeods Shoot vs Skinners Shoot, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
McLeods Shoot and Skinners Shoot are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
McLeods Shoot runs $750 a year cheaper than Skinners Shoot, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,598.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,600, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Skinners Shoot
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | McLeods Shoot | Skinners Shoot | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| 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 | $1,400 | $2,150 | -$750 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,549 | $23,299 | -$750 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,549 | $23,299 | -$750 |
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 | McLeods Shoot | Skinners Shoot | 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, McLeods Shoot vs Skinners Shoot (2026-27)
What the numbers show
McLeods Shoot and Skinners Shoot differ by $750 a year by car, but $750 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 $750 per year. Skinners Shoot carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $750 per year, $22,549 from McLeods Shoot versus $23,299 from Skinners Shoot.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours McLeods Shoot by $750 a year, $1,400 against $2,150.
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 Skinners Shoot against low in McLeods Shoot, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | McLeods Shoot cumulative | Skinners Shoot cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,549 | $23,299 | $750 |
| Year 3 | $69,697 | $72,015 | $2,318 |
| Year 5 | $119,716 | $123,698 | $3,982 |
| Year 10 | $258,499 | $267,097 | $8,598 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is McLeods Shoot or Skinners Shoot cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. McLeods Shoot runs $22,549 a year by car and Skinners Shoot $23,299, but most of the $750 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 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.
How does the commute cost compare between McLeods Shoot and Skinners Shoot?
McLeods Shoot 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. Skinners Shoot 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 McLeods Shoot and Skinners Shoot?
At 3% annual cost growth, McLeods Shoot costs a cumulative $258,499 and Skinners Shoot costs $267,097 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,598 in favour of McLeods Shoot. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of McLeods Shoot and Skinners Shoot suits you better?
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Sources: Byron rates (OLG and Byron 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.