Rous Mill vs Tregeagle, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rous Mill (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and Tregeagle (Lismore rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
Rous Mill runs $450 a year cheaper than Tregeagle, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,159.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,200, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tregeagle
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rous Mill | Tregeagle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,384 | $1,534 | -$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 | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,384 | $22,834 | -$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,384 | $22,834 | -$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 | Rous Mill | Tregeagle | 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, Rous Mill vs Tregeagle (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Rous Mill and Tregeagle differ by $450 a year by car, but $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 $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $22,384 from Rous Mill versus $22,834 from Tregeagle.
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 $300 a year, $1,500 against $1,800.
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 medium in Rous Mill against low in Tregeagle, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Tregeagle against low in Rous Mill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rous Mill cumulative | Tregeagle cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,384 | $22,834 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $69,187 | $70,578 | $1,391 |
| Year 5 | $118,840 | $121,229 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $256,607 | $261,766 | $5,159 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rous Mill or Tregeagle cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Rous Mill runs $22,384 a year by car and Tregeagle $22,834, but most of the $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 Rous Mill and Tregeagle?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,384 in Rous Mill (Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in) and $1,534 in Tregeagle (Lismore rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Rous Mill and $1,300 in Tregeagle. 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 Rous Mill and Tregeagle?
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. Tregeagle 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 Rous Mill and Tregeagle?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rous Mill costs a cumulative $256,607 and Tregeagle costs $261,766 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,159 in favour of Rous Mill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rous Mill and Tregeagle suits you better?
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Sources: Ballina Shire Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 6% in and Lismore 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.