Balgownie vs Mount Ousley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balgownie and Mount Ousley are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 65.4 km and 66.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Ousley runs $402 a year cheaper than Balgownie, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,608.
Over 10 years, Mount Ousley costs about $4,600 less to run than Balgownie. That's about $9 a week.
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Mount Ousley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balgownie | Mount Ousley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,170 | $3,968 | +$202 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,400 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,137 | $8,735 | +$402 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,367 | $7,167 | +$200 |
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 | Balgownie | Mount Ousley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Balgownie vs Mount Ousley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Ousley costs $402 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,608 in favour of Mount Ousley.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $202 per year. Mount Ousley is 66.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,367 from Balgownie versus $7,167 from Mount Ousley.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Ousley by $202 a year, $3,968 against $4,170.
- Building insurance favours Mount Ousley by $200 a year, $1,400 against $1,600.
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 medium in Balgownie against low in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balgownie cumulative | Mount Ousley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,137 | $8,735 | $402 |
| Year 3 | $28,242 | $26,999 | $1,243 |
| Year 5 | $48,510 | $46,375 | $2,135 |
| Year 10 | $104,745 | $100,137 | $4,608 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balgownie or Mount Ousley cheaper to live in?
Mount Ousley is cheaper to run by car at $8,735 per year versus $9,137 for Balgownie, a difference of $402 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balgownie and Mount Ousley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Balgownie (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Ousley (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Balgownie and $1,548 in Mount Ousley. 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 Balgownie and Mount Ousley?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Balgownie and $3,968 from Mount Ousley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balgownie and $2,400 from Mount Ousley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balgownie and Mount Ousley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balgownie costs a cumulative $104,745 and Mount Ousley costs $100,137 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,608 in favour of Mount Ousley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balgownie and Mount Ousley suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.