Gowrie vs Wylies Flat, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gowrie and Wylies Flat are both Singleton rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wylies Flat runs $700 a year cheaper than Gowrie, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,025.
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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Wylies Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gowrie | Wylies Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,650 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,191 | $22,491 | +$700 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,191 | $22,491 | +$700 |
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 | Gowrie | Wylies Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,615 | $2,615 | - |
| Unit | $2,113 | $2,113 | - |
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, Gowrie vs Wylies Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gowrie and Wylies Flat differ by $700 a year by car, but $700 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Gowrie carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $23,191 from Gowrie versus $22,491 from Wylies Flat.
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 is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Wylies Flat by $700 a year, $1,650 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Gowrie against medium in Wylies Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Gowrie against low in Wylies Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gowrie cumulative | Wylies Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,191 | $22,491 | $700 |
| Year 3 | $71,681 | $69,517 | $2,164 |
| Year 5 | $123,124 | $119,408 | $3,716 |
| Year 10 | $265,859 | $257,834 | $8,025 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gowrie or Wylies Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gowrie runs $23,191 a year by car and Wylies Flat $22,491, but most of the $700 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gowrie and Wylies Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Gowrie (Singleton rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Wylies Flat (Singleton rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Gowrie and $1,300 in Wylies Flat. 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 Gowrie and Wylies Flat?
Gowrie 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. Wylies Flat 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gowrie and Wylies Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gowrie costs a cumulative $265,859 and Wylies Flat costs $257,834 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,025 in favour of Wylies Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gowrie and Wylies Flat suits you better?
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Sources: Singleton rates (OLG and Singleton 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.