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 $300 a year cheaper than Flat Tops, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Flat Tops
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alison | Flat Tops | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,839 | $23,139 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,839 | $23,139 | -$300 |
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 | 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 and Flat Tops differ by $300 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $22,839 from Alison versus $23,139 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 $300 a year, $1,550 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 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 | $22,839 | $23,139 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $70,593 | $71,520 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $121,255 | $122,848 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $261,824 | $265,263 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alison or Flat Tops cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Alison runs $22,839 a year by car and Flat Tops $23,139, but most of the $300 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 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alison and Flat Tops?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alison costs a cumulative $261,824 and Flat Tops costs $265,263 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Alison. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alison and Flat Tops suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.