Alison vs Flat Tops: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Alison and Flat Tops are both Dungog rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Alison runs $400 a year cheaper than Flat Tops, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Alison
Flat Tops
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alison | Flat Tops | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,400 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,289 | $23,689 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,489 | $7,889 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Alison | Flat Tops | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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 — Alison vs Flat Tops (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Alison costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Alison.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,489 from Alison versus $7,889 from Flat Tops.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,712 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Alison by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 high in Flat Tops against medium in Alison, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alison cumulative | Flat Tops cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,289 | $23,689 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $71,984 | $73,220 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $123,644 | $125,768 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $266,982 | $271,568 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alison or Flat Tops cheaper to live in?
Alison is cheaper to run by car at $23,289 per year versus $23,689 for Flat Tops, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alison and Flat Tops?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,712 in Alison (Dungog rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Flat Tops (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Alison and $1,377 in Flat Tops. 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 Alison and Flat Tops?
Alison 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. Flat Tops 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Alison and $2,400 from Flat Tops.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alison and Flat Tops?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alison costs a cumulative $266,982 and Flat Tops costs $271,568 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Alison. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alison and Flat Tops 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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Sources: Dungog rates (OLG and Dungog rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.