Ashby Heights vs Mororo: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ashby Heights and Mororo are both Clarence Valley rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mororo runs $450 a year cheaper than Ashby Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,159.
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 →Ashby Heights
Mororo
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ashby Heights | Mororo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,439 | $1,439 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $2,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,789 | $23,339 | +$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,989 | $7,539 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Ashby Heights | Mororo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 — Ashby Heights vs Mororo (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mororo costs $450 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,159 in favour of Mororo.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Ashby Heights carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,989 from Ashby Heights versus $7,539 from Mororo.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,439 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mororo by $450 a year, $2,400 against $2,850.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Ashby Heights against low in Mororo, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ashby Heights cumulative | Mororo cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,789 | $23,339 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $73,529 | $72,139 | $1,390 |
| Year 5 | $126,299 | $123,910 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $272,714 | $267,555 | $5,159 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashby Heights or Mororo cheaper to live in?
Mororo is cheaper to run by car at $23,339 per year versus $23,789 for Ashby Heights, a difference of $450 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ashby Heights and Mororo?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,439 in Ashby Heights (Clarence Valley rates (OLG) and $1,439 in Mororo (Clarence Valley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ashby Heights and $1,300 in Mororo. 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 Ashby Heights and Mororo?
Ashby Heights 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. Mororo 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 Ashby Heights and $2,400 from Mororo.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ashby Heights and Mororo?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ashby Heights costs a cumulative $272,714 and Mororo costs $267,555 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,159 in favour of Mororo. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ashby Heights and Mororo 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: Clarence Valley rates (OLG and Clarence Valley 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.