Dunolly vs Singleton Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dunolly and Singleton Heights are both Singleton rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $100 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,100, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Singleton Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dunolly | Singleton Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,650 | $1,550 | +$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,491 | $22,391 | +$100 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,491 | $22,391 | +$100 |
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 | Dunolly | Singleton Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,615 | $2,615 | - |
| Unit | $2,113 | $2,113 | - |
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, Dunolly vs Singleton Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dunolly and Singleton Heights differ by $100 a year by car, but $100 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Dunolly carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $22,491 and $22,391 a year, so the $100 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Singleton Heights by $100 a year, $1,550 against $1,650.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Dunolly against low in Singleton Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Singleton Heights against low in Dunolly, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dunolly cumulative | Singleton Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,491 | $22,391 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $69,517 | $69,208 | $309 |
| Year 5 | $119,408 | $118,877 | $531 |
| Year 10 | $257,834 | $256,688 | $1,146 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dunolly or Singleton Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dunolly runs $22,491 a year by car and Singleton Heights $22,391, but most of the $100 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dunolly and Singleton Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Dunolly (Singleton rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Singleton Heights (Singleton rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Dunolly and $1,300 in Singleton Heights. 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 Dunolly and Singleton Heights?
Dunolly carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Singleton Heights carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dunolly and Singleton Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dunolly costs a cumulative $257,834 and Singleton Heights costs $256,688 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,146 in favour of Singleton Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dunolly and Singleton Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Singleton rates (OLG and Singleton 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.