Billywillinga vs Mount Rankin: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Billywillinga and Mount Rankin are both Bathurst Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.3 km and 16.2 km from Bathurst CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Rankin runs $623 a year cheaper than Billywillinga, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,142.
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 →Billywillinga
Mount Rankin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Billywillinga | Mount Rankin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,738 | $4,515 | +$223 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,779 | $9,156 | +$623 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,441 | $7,041 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Billywillinga | Mount Rankin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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 — Billywillinga vs Mount Rankin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Rankin costs $623 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,142 in favour of Mount Rankin.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,441 from Billywillinga versus $7,041 from Mount Rankin.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,341 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Rankin by $223 a year, $4,515 against $4,738.
- Building insurance favours Mount Rankin by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 Billywillinga against medium in Mount Rankin, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Billywillinga cumulative | Mount Rankin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,779 | $9,156 | $623 |
| Year 3 | $30,226 | $28,300 | $1,926 |
| Year 5 | $51,918 | $48,610 | $3,308 |
| Year 10 | $112,105 | $104,963 | $7,142 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Billywillinga or Mount Rankin cheaper to live in?
Mount Rankin is cheaper to run by car at $9,156 per year versus $9,779 for Billywillinga, a difference of $623 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Billywillinga and Mount Rankin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Billywillinga (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Mount Rankin (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Billywillinga and $1,300 in Mount Rankin. 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 Billywillinga and Mount Rankin?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,738 from Billywillinga and $4,515 from Mount Rankin to Bathurst CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Billywillinga and $2,400 from Mount Rankin.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Billywillinga and Mount Rankin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Billywillinga costs a cumulative $112,105 and Mount Rankin costs $104,963 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,142 in favour of Mount Rankin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Billywillinga and Mount Rankin 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Bathurst Regional rates (OLG and Bathurst Regional 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.