Galston vs Middle Dural, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Galston and Middle Dural are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.4 km and 30.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $115 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 $1,300, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Middle Dural
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Galston | Middle Dural | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,401 | $6,586 | -$185 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,340 | $11,225 | +$115 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,339 | $7,039 | +$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 | Galston | Middle Dural | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Galston vs Middle Dural (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Galston and Middle Dural differ by $115 a year by car, but $300 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 $185, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,339 from Galston versus $7,039 from Middle Dural.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Galston by $185 a year, $6,401 against $6,586.
- Building insurance favours Middle Dural by $300 a year, $1,550 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Galston against medium in Middle Dural, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Galston cumulative | Middle Dural cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,340 | $11,225 | $115 |
| Year 3 | $35,051 | $34,695 | $356 |
| Year 5 | $60,206 | $59,595 | $611 |
| Year 10 | $130,000 | $128,682 | $1,318 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Galston or Middle Dural cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Galston runs $11,340 a year by car and Middle Dural $11,225, but most of the $115 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $185. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Galston and Middle Dural?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Galston (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Middle Dural (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Galston and $1,548 in Middle Dural. 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 Galston and Middle Dural?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,401 from Galston and $6,586 from Middle Dural to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Galston and $2,400 from Middle Dural.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Galston and Middle Dural?
At 3% annual cost growth, Galston costs a cumulative $130,000 and Middle Dural costs $128,682 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,318 in favour of Middle Dural. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Galston and Middle Dural suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.