Alison vs Little Jilliby: 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 Little Jilliby are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 69.1 km and 72.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Little Jilliby runs $389 a year cheaper than Alison, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,459.
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
Little Jilliby
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alison | Little Jilliby | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,289 | $3,150 | +$139 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,850 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,143 | $8,754 | +$389 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,254 | $8,004 | +$250 |
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 | Little Jilliby | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 Little Jilliby (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Little Jilliby costs $389 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,459 in favour of Little Jilliby.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Alison carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,254 from Alison versus $8,004 from Little Jilliby.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Little Jilliby by $139 a year, $3,150 against $3,289.
- Building insurance favours Little Jilliby by $250 a year, $2,850 against $3,100.
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 high in Alison against medium in Little Jilliby, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Little Jilliby against medium in Alison, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.7 in Little Jilliby against 4.3 in Alison, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alison cumulative | Little Jilliby cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,143 | $8,754 | $389 |
| Year 3 | $28,260 | $27,058 | $1,202 |
| Year 5 | $48,541 | $46,476 | $2,065 |
| Year 10 | $104,814 | $100,355 | $4,459 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alison or Little Jilliby cheaper to live in?
Little Jilliby is cheaper to run by car at $8,754 per year versus $9,143 for Alison, a difference of $389 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alison and Little Jilliby?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Alison (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Little Jilliby (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Alison and $1,300 in Little Jilliby. 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 Little Jilliby?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,289 from Alison and $3,150 from Little Jilliby to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Alison and $2,400 from Little Jilliby.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alison and Little Jilliby?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alison costs a cumulative $104,814 and Little Jilliby costs $100,355 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,459 in favour of Little Jilliby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alison and Little Jilliby 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.