Alison vs Wyong Creek, 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 Wyong Creek are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 69.1 km and 69 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $276 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wyong Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alison | Wyong Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,289 | $3,315 | -$26 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $2,250 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,043 | $8,319 | -$276 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,154 | $7,404 | -$250 |
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 | Wyong Creek | 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 Wyong Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Alison and Wyong Creek differ by $276 a year by car, but $250 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 $26, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Wyong Creek carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,154 from Alison versus $7,404 from Wyong Creek.
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 Alison by $26 a year, $3,289 against $3,315.
- Building insurance favours Alison by $250 a year, $2,000 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Wyong Creek against medium in Alison, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Wyong Creek against 4.3 in Alison, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alison cumulative | Wyong Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,043 | $8,319 | $276 |
| Year 3 | $24,860 | $25,713 | $853 |
| Year 5 | $42,701 | $44,167 | $1,466 |
| Year 10 | $92,204 | $95,368 | $3,164 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alison or Wyong Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Alison runs $8,043 a year by car and Wyong Creek $8,319, but most of the $276 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $26. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alison and Wyong Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Alison (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Wyong Creek (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Alison and $1,300 in Wyong Creek. 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 Wyong Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,289 from Alison and $3,315 from Wyong Creek to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Alison and $2,400 from Wyong Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alison and Wyong Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alison costs a cumulative $92,204 and Wyong Creek costs $95,368 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,164 in favour of Alison. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alison and Wyong Creek suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.