Arthurville vs Benolong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Arthurville and Benolong are both Dubbo Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 35.3 km and 32.6 km from Dubbo CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Arthurville runs $658 a year cheaper than Benolong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,543.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,500, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Benolong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Arthurville | Benolong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,270 | $1,270 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,892 | $6,750 | +$142 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,892 | $6,750 | +$142 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,350 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,012 | $11,670 | -$658 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,012 | $11,670 | -$658 |
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 | Arthurville | Benolong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, Arthurville vs Benolong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Arthurville and Benolong differ by $658 a year by car, but $800 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 $142, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Benolong carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $658 per year, $11,012 from Arthurville versus $11,670 from Benolong.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,270 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Benolong by $142 a year, $6,750 against $6,892.
- Building insurance favours Arthurville by $800 a year, $1,550 against $2,350.
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 Benolong against low in Arthurville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Arthurville cumulative | Benolong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,012 | $11,670 | $658 |
| Year 3 | $34,037 | $36,071 | $2,034 |
| Year 5 | $58,464 | $61,958 | $3,494 |
| Year 10 | $126,240 | $133,783 | $7,543 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arthurville or Benolong cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Arthurville runs $11,012 a year by car and Benolong $11,670, but most of the $658 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $142. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Arthurville and Benolong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,270 in Arthurville (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG) and $1,270 in Benolong (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Arthurville and $1,300 in Benolong. 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 Arthurville and Benolong?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,892 from Arthurville and $6,750 from Benolong to Dubbo 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 Arthurville and Benolong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Arthurville costs a cumulative $126,240 and Benolong costs $133,783 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,543 in favour of Arthurville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Arthurville and Benolong suits you better?
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Sources: Dubbo Regional rates (OLG and Dubbo Regional 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.