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 $573 a year cheaper than Billywillinga, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,568.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,600, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Rankin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Billywillinga | Mount Rankin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,738 | $4,515 | +$223 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,738 | $4,515 | +$223 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $1,850 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,579 | $9,006 | +$573 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,579 | $9,006 | +$573 |
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 | 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
Billywillinga and Mount Rankin differ by $573 a year by car, but $350 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 $223, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $573 per year, $9,579 from Billywillinga versus $9,006 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 $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
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 | $9,579 | $9,006 | $573 |
| Year 3 | $29,608 | $27,837 | $1,771 |
| Year 5 | $50,856 | $47,814 | $3,042 |
| Year 10 | $109,812 | $103,244 | $6,568 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Billywillinga or Mount Rankin cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Billywillinga runs $9,579 a year by car and Mount Rankin $9,006, but most of the $573 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $223. 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). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Billywillinga and Mount Rankin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Billywillinga costs a cumulative $109,812 and Mount Rankin costs $103,244 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,568 in favour of Mount Rankin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Billywillinga and Mount Rankin suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.