Gwynneville vs Mount Ousley: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gwynneville and Mount Ousley are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 67.7 km and 66.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Ousley runs $319 a year cheaper than Gwynneville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,657.
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 →Gwynneville
Mount Ousley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gwynneville | Mount Ousley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,637 | $3,968 | -$331 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $2,150 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,804 | $9,485 | +$319 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,567 | $7,917 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Gwynneville | Mount Ousley | 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 — Gwynneville vs Mount Ousley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Ousley costs $319 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,657 in favour of Mount Ousley.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Gwynneville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,567 from Gwynneville versus $7,917 from Mount Ousley.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Gwynneville by $331 a year, $3,637 against $3,968.
- Building insurance favours Mount Ousley by $650 a year, $2,150 against $2,800.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Gwynneville against medium in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gwynneville cumulative | Mount Ousley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,804 | $9,485 | $319 |
| Year 3 | $30,303 | $29,317 | $986 |
| Year 5 | $52,051 | $50,357 | $1,694 |
| Year 10 | $112,392 | $108,735 | $3,657 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gwynneville or Mount Ousley cheaper to live in?
Mount Ousley is cheaper to run by car at $9,485 per year versus $9,804 for Gwynneville, a difference of $319 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gwynneville and Mount Ousley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Gwynneville (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Ousley (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Gwynneville and $1,548 in Mount Ousley. 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 Gwynneville and Mount Ousley?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,637 from Gwynneville and $3,968 from Mount Ousley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Gwynneville and $2,400 from Mount Ousley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gwynneville and Mount Ousley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gwynneville costs a cumulative $112,392 and Mount Ousley costs $108,735 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,657 in favour of Mount Ousley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gwynneville and Mount Ousley 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.