Fairy Meadow vs Mount Ousley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 65.2 km and 66.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Ousley runs $697 a year cheaper than Fairy Meadow, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,990.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Ousley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fairy Meadow | Mount Ousley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,215 | $3,968 | +$247 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,432 | $8,735 | +$697 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,617 | $7,167 | +$450 |
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 | Fairy Meadow | Mount Ousley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Fairy Meadow vs Mount Ousley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley differ by $697 a year by car, but $450 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 $247, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Fairy Meadow carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,617 from Fairy Meadow versus $7,167 from Mount Ousley.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Ousley by $247 a year, $3,968 against $4,215.
- Building insurance favours Mount Ousley by $450 a year, $1,400 against $1,850.
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 Fairy Meadow against medium in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8 in Mount Ousley against 6.1 in Fairy Meadow, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fairy Meadow cumulative | Mount Ousley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,432 | $8,735 | $697 |
| Year 3 | $29,153 | $26,999 | $2,154 |
| Year 5 | $50,076 | $46,375 | $3,701 |
| Year 10 | $108,127 | $100,137 | $7,990 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairy Meadow or Mount Ousley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fairy Meadow runs $9,432 a year by car and Mount Ousley $8,735, but most of the $697 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $247. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Fairy Meadow (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Ousley (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Fairy Meadow and $1,548 in Mount Ousley. 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 Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,215 from Fairy Meadow and $3,968 from Mount Ousley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fairy Meadow and $2,400 from Mount Ousley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fairy Meadow costs a cumulative $108,127 and Mount Ousley costs $100,137 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,990 in favour of Mount Ousley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fairy Meadow and Mount Ousley suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.