Ashmont vs Mount Austin, 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 Mount Austin are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.2 km and 3.2 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $100 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 $1,100, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Ashmont
Mount Austin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ashmont | Mount Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $1,073 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $1,073 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $1,850 | +$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,617 | $5,517 | +$100 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,617 | $5,517 | +$100 |
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 | Mount Austin | 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 Mount Austin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ashmont and Mount Austin differ by $100 a year by car, but $100 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Ashmont carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,617 and $5,517 a year, so the $100 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 is identical at $1,073 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mount Austin by $100 a year, $1,850 against $1,950.
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 Ashmont against low in Mount Austin, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Mount Austin against low in Ashmont, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ashmont cumulative | Mount Austin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,617 | $5,517 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $17,362 | $17,052 | $310 |
| Year 5 | $29,821 | $29,291 | $530 |
| Year 10 | $64,393 | $63,246 | $1,147 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashmont or Mount Austin cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ashmont runs $5,617 a year by car and Mount Austin $5,517, but most of the $100 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ashmont and Mount Austin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Ashmont (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Mount Austin (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ashmont and $1,300 in Mount Austin. 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 Mount Austin?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,073 from Ashmont and $1,073 from Mount Austin 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 Mount Austin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ashmont costs a cumulative $64,393 and Mount Austin costs $63,246 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,147 in favour of Mount Austin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ashmont and Mount Austin suits you better?
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: 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.