Asquith vs Mount Colah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Asquith and Mount Colah are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.8 km and 23.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Asquith runs $514 a year cheaper than Mount Colah, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,892.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,900, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Colah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Asquith | Mount Colah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,542 | $5,756 | -$214 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,181 | $10,695 | -$514 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,039 | $7,339 | -$300 |
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 | Asquith | Mount Colah | 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, Asquith vs Mount Colah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Asquith and Mount Colah differ by $514 a year by car, but $300 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 $214, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,039 from Asquith versus $7,339 from Mount Colah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Asquith by $214 a year, $5,542 against $5,756.
- Building insurance favours Asquith by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Mount Colah against medium in Asquith, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Asquith cumulative | Mount Colah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,181 | $10,695 | $514 |
| Year 3 | $31,468 | $33,057 | $1,589 |
| Year 5 | $54,052 | $56,781 | $2,729 |
| Year 10 | $116,714 | $122,606 | $5,892 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Asquith or Mount Colah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Asquith runs $10,181 a year by car and Mount Colah $10,695, but most of the $514 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $214. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Asquith and Mount Colah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Asquith (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Mount Colah (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Asquith and $1,548 in Mount Colah. 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 Asquith and Mount Colah?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,542 from Asquith and $5,756 from Mount Colah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Asquith and $2,400 from Mount Colah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Asquith and Mount Colah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Asquith costs a cumulative $116,714 and Mount Colah costs $122,606 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,892 in favour of Asquith. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Asquith and Mount Colah suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.