Douglas Park vs Wilton: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Douglas Park and Wilton are both Wollondilly rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 59.5 km and 62.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wilton runs $359 a year cheaper than Douglas Park, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,115.
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 →Douglas Park
Wilton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Douglas Park | Wilton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $2,195 | $2,195 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,328 | $4,719 | +$609 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,150 | $2,400 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $1,800 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $11,221 | $10,862 | +$359 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,293 | $8,543 | -$250 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Douglas Park | Wilton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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 — Douglas Park vs Wilton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Wilton costs $359 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,115 in favour of Wilton.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $609 per year. Wilton is 62.8 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,293 from Douglas Park versus $8,543 from Wilton.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,195 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wilton by $609 a year, $4,719 against $5,328.
- Building insurance favours Douglas Park by $250 a year, $2,150 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 Wilton against medium in Douglas Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Douglas Park cumulative | Wilton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,221 | $10,862 | $359 |
| Year 3 | $34,683 | $33,573 | $1,110 |
| Year 5 | $59,574 | $57,668 | $1,906 |
| Year 10 | $128,636 | $124,521 | $4,115 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Douglas Park or Wilton cheaper to live in?
Wilton is cheaper to run by car at $10,862 per year versus $11,221 for Douglas Park, a difference of $359 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Douglas Park and Wilton?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,195 in Douglas Park (Wollondilly rates (OLG) and $2,195 in Wilton (Wollondilly rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Douglas Park and $1,548 in Wilton. 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 Douglas Park and Wilton?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,328 from Douglas Park and $4,719 from Wilton to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Douglas Park and $2,400 from Wilton.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Douglas Park and Wilton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Douglas Park costs a cumulative $128,636 and Wilton costs $124,521 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,115 in favour of Wilton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Douglas Park and Wilton 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.
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Sources: Wollondilly rates (OLG and Wollondilly 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.