Fishers Hill vs Summer Hill: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fishers Hill and Summer Hill are both Dungog rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Summer Hill runs $400 a year cheaper than Fishers Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Fishers Hill
Summer Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fishers Hill | Summer Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,689 | $23,289 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,889 | $7,489 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Fishers Hill | Summer Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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 — Fishers Hill vs Summer Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Summer Hill costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Summer Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,889 from Fishers Hill versus $7,489 from Summer Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,712 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Summer Hill by $400 a year, $2,000 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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Fishers Hill against medium in Summer Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fishers Hill cumulative | Summer Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,689 | $23,289 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $73,220 | $71,984 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $125,768 | $123,644 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $271,568 | $266,982 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fishers Hill or Summer Hill cheaper to live in?
Summer Hill is cheaper to run by car at $23,289 per year versus $23,689 for Fishers Hill, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fishers Hill and Summer Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,712 in Fishers Hill (Dungog rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Summer Hill (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Fishers Hill and $1,377 in Summer Hill. 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 Fishers Hill and Summer Hill?
Fishers Hill 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. Summer Hill 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Fishers Hill and $2,400 from Summer Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fishers Hill and Summer Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fishers Hill costs a cumulative $271,568 and Summer Hill costs $266,982 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Summer Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fishers Hill and Summer Hill 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: Dungog rates (OLG and Dungog 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.