Skillion Flat vs Yarravel, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Skillion Flat and Yarravel are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yarravel runs $11,318 a year cheaper than Skillion Flat, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $129,748.
Over 10 years, Yarravel costs about $129,700 less to run than Skillion Flat. That's about $250 a week.
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Yarravel
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Skillion Flat | Yarravel | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $6,832 | +$11,368 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $6,832 | +$11,368 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $1,850 | -$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,792 | $11,474 | +$11,318 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,792 | $11,474 | +$11,318 |
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 | Skillion Flat | Yarravel | 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, Skillion Flat vs Yarravel (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Yarravel costs $11,318 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $129,748 in favour of Yarravel.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,368 per year. Skillion Flat is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,318 per year, $22,792 from Skillion Flat versus $11,474 from Yarravel.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yarravel by $11,368 a year, $6,832 against $18,200.
- Building insurance favours Skillion Flat by $50 a year, $1,800 against $1,850.
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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Yarravel against low in Skillion Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Skillion Flat against medium in Yarravel, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Skillion Flat cumulative | Yarravel cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,792 | $11,474 | $11,318 |
| Year 3 | $70,448 | $35,465 | $34,983 |
| Year 5 | $121,006 | $60,917 | $60,089 |
| Year 10 | $261,285 | $131,537 | $129,748 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skillion Flat or Yarravel cheaper to live in?
Yarravel is cheaper to run by car at $11,474 per year versus $22,792 for Skillion Flat, a difference of $11,318 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Skillion Flat and Yarravel?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Skillion Flat (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Yarravel (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Skillion Flat and $1,300 in Yarravel. 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 Skillion Flat and Yarravel?
Skillion Flat 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. Yarravel is $6,832 a year to drive to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Skillion Flat and Yarravel?
At 3% annual cost growth, Skillion Flat costs a cumulative $261,285 and Yarravel costs $131,537 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $129,748 in favour of Yarravel. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Skillion Flat and Yarravel suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.