Ashmont vs Moorong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ashmont and Moorong are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.2 km and 3.5 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Ashmont runs $997 a year cheaper than Moorong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,429.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,400, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Moorong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ashmont | Moorong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $1,170 | -$97 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $1,170 | -$97 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $2,850 | -$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,617 | $6,614 | -$997 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,617 | $6,614 | -$997 |
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 | Ashmont | Moorong | 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, Ashmont vs Moorong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ashmont and Moorong differ by $997 a year by car, but $900 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 $97, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. Moorong carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $997 per year, $5,617 from Ashmont versus $6,614 from Moorong.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,294 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ashmont by $97 a year, $1,073 against $1,170.
- Building insurance favours Ashmont by $900 a year, $1,950 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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Moorong against medium in Ashmont, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Moorong against low in Ashmont, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ashmont cumulative | Moorong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,617 | $6,614 | $997 |
| Year 3 | $17,362 | $20,443 | $3,081 |
| Year 5 | $29,821 | $35,115 | $5,294 |
| Year 10 | $64,393 | $75,822 | $11,429 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashmont or Moorong cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ashmont runs $5,617 a year by car and Moorong $6,614, but most of the $997 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $97. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ashmont and Moorong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Ashmont (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Moorong (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ashmont and $1,300 in Moorong. 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 Ashmont and Moorong?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,073 from Ashmont and $1,170 from Moorong to Wagga Wagga 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 Ashmont and Moorong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ashmont costs a cumulative $64,393 and Moorong costs $75,822 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,429 in favour of Ashmont. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ashmont and Moorong suits you better?
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Sources: Wagga Wagga rates (OLG and Wagga Wagga 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.