Fitzgeralds Mount vs Fitzgeralds Valley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley are both Bathurst Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 20.8 km and 20.5 km from Bathurst CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fitzgeralds Valley runs $701 a year cheaper than Fitzgeralds Mount, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,036.
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.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Fitzgeralds Mount
Fitzgeralds Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fitzgeralds Mount | Fitzgeralds Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,379 | $5,328 | +$51 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,379 | $5,328 | +$51 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $1,550 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,220 | $9,519 | +$701 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,220 | $9,519 | +$701 |
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 | Fitzgeralds Mount | Fitzgeralds Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Fitzgeralds Mount vs Fitzgeralds Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley differ by $701 a year by car, but $650 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 $51, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year.
On public transport the gap is $701 per year, $10,220 from Fitzgeralds Mount versus $9,519 from Fitzgeralds Valley.
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 favours Fitzgeralds Valley by $51 a year, $5,328 against $5,379.
- Building insurance favours Fitzgeralds Valley by $650 a year, $1,550 against $2,200.
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 Fitzgeralds Mount against low in Fitzgeralds Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fitzgeralds Mount cumulative | Fitzgeralds Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,220 | $9,519 | $701 |
| Year 3 | $31,589 | $29,422 | $2,167 |
| Year 5 | $54,259 | $50,538 | $3,721 |
| Year 10 | $117,161 | $109,125 | $8,036 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fitzgeralds Mount or Fitzgeralds Valley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fitzgeralds Mount runs $10,220 a year by car and Fitzgeralds Valley $9,519, but most of the $701 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $51. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Fitzgeralds Mount (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Fitzgeralds Valley (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Fitzgeralds Mount and $1,300 in Fitzgeralds Valley. 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 Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,379 from Fitzgeralds Mount and $5,328 from Fitzgeralds Valley to Bathurst CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fitzgeralds Mount costs a cumulative $117,161 and Fitzgeralds Valley costs $109,125 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,036 in favour of Fitzgeralds Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fitzgeralds Mount and Fitzgeralds Valley suits you better?
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: Bathurst Regional rates (OLG and Bathurst Regional 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.