Cartwrights Hill vs Charles Sturt University, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.9 km and 5.1 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Charles Sturt University runs $938 a year cheaper than Cartwrights Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,753.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,800, about $21 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Charles Sturt University
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cartwrights Hill | Charles Sturt University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,607 | $1,669 | -$62 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,607 | $1,669 | -$62 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,850 | $1,850 | +$1,000 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,051 | $6,113 | +$938 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,051 | $6,113 | +$938 |
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 | Cartwrights Hill | Charles Sturt University | 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, Cartwrights Hill vs Charles Sturt University (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University differ by $938 a year by car, but $1,000 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 $62, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,000 per year. Cartwrights Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $938 per year, $7,051 from Cartwrights Hill versus $6,113 from Charles Sturt University.
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 favours Cartwrights Hill by $62 a year, $1,607 against $1,669.
- Building insurance favours Charles Sturt University by $1,000 a year, $1,850 against $2,850.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Cartwrights Hill against low in Charles Sturt University, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cartwrights Hill cumulative | Charles Sturt University cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,051 | $6,113 | $938 |
| Year 3 | $21,794 | $18,895 | $2,899 |
| Year 5 | $37,435 | $32,455 | $4,980 |
| Year 10 | $80,832 | $70,079 | $10,753 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartwrights Hill or Charles Sturt University cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cartwrights Hill runs $7,051 a year by car and Charles Sturt University $6,113, but most of the $938 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $62. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Cartwrights Hill (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cartwrights Hill and $1,300 in Charles Sturt University. 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 Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,607 from Cartwrights Hill and $1,669 from Charles Sturt University 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 Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cartwrights Hill costs a cumulative $80,832 and Charles Sturt University costs $70,079 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,753 in favour of Charles Sturt University. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cartwrights Hill and Charles Sturt University suits you better?
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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.