Foxground vs Saddleback Mountain, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Foxground and Saddleback Mountain are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Saddleback Mountain runs $2,725 a year cheaper than Foxground, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $31,239.
Over 10 years, Saddleback Mountain costs about $31,200 less to run than Foxground. That's about $60 a week.
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Saddleback Mountain
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Foxground | Saddleback Mountain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,775 | $4,350 | +$2,425 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $1,500 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,082 | $9,357 | +$2,725 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,707 | $7,407 | +$300 |
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 | Foxground | Saddleback Mountain | 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, Foxground vs Saddleback Mountain (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Saddleback Mountain costs $2,725 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $31,239 in favour of Saddleback Mountain.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $2,425 per year. Saddleback Mountain is 99.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,707 from Foxground versus $7,407 from Saddleback Mountain.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,959 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Saddleback Mountain by $2,425 a year, $4,350 against $6,775.
- Building insurance favours Saddleback Mountain by $300 a year, $1,500 against $1,800.
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 Foxground against medium in Saddleback Mountain, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Foxground cumulative | Saddleback Mountain cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,082 | $9,357 | $2,725 |
| Year 3 | $37,344 | $28,922 | $8,422 |
| Year 5 | $64,145 | $49,678 | $14,467 |
| Year 10 | $138,507 | $107,268 | $31,239 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Foxground or Saddleback Mountain cheaper to live in?
Saddleback Mountain is cheaper to run by car at $9,357 per year versus $12,082 for Foxground, a difference of $2,725 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Foxground and Saddleback Mountain?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Foxground (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Saddleback Mountain (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Foxground and $1,548 in Saddleback Mountain. 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 Foxground and Saddleback Mountain?
Foxground is $6,775 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Saddleback Mountain is $4,350 a year to drive to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Foxground and $2,400 from Saddleback Mountain.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Foxground and Saddleback Mountain?
At 3% annual cost growth, Foxground costs a cumulative $138,507 and Saddleback Mountain costs $107,268 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $31,239 in favour of Saddleback Mountain. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Foxground and Saddleback Mountain suits you better?
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Sources: Kiama rates (OLG and Kiama 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.