Coniston vs Mount Saint Thomas: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 70.1 km and 70.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Saint Thomas runs $325 a year cheaper than Coniston, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,725.
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 →Coniston
Mount Saint Thomas
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Coniston | Mount Saint Thomas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,961 | $2,986 | -$25 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $2,450 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,128 | $8,803 | +$325 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,567 | $8,217 | +$350 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Coniston | Mount Saint Thomas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Coniston vs Mount Saint Thomas (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Saint Thomas costs $325 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,725 in favour of Mount Saint Thomas.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Coniston carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $8,567 from Coniston versus $8,217 from Mount Saint Thomas.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Coniston cumulative | Mount Saint Thomas cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,128 | $8,803 | $325 |
| Year 3 | $28,214 | $27,209 | $1,005 |
| Year 5 | $48,462 | $46,736 | $1,726 |
| Year 10 | $104,642 | $100,917 | $3,725 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coniston or Mount Saint Thomas cheaper to live in?
Mount Saint Thomas is cheaper to run by car at $8,803 per year versus $9,128 for Coniston, a difference of $325 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Coniston (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Saint Thomas (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Coniston and $1,548 in Mount Saint Thomas. 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 Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,961 from Coniston and $2,986 from Mount Saint Thomas to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Coniston and $2,400 from Mount Saint Thomas.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas?
At 3% annual cost growth, Coniston costs a cumulative $104,642 and Mount Saint Thomas costs $100,917 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,725 in favour of Mount Saint Thomas. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas 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: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.