Harefield vs Wallacetown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Harefield and Wallacetown are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.7 km and 18.3 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $225 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 $2,600, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wallacetown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Harefield | Wallacetown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,007 | $4,932 | +$75 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,007 | $4,932 | +$75 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,151 | $9,376 | -$225 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,151 | $9,376 | -$225 |
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 | Harefield | Wallacetown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, Harefield vs Wallacetown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Harefield and Wallacetown differ by $225 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 $75, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $225 per year, $9,151 from Harefield versus $9,376 from Wallacetown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,294 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wallacetown by $75 a year, $4,932 against $5,007.
- Building insurance favours Harefield 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 medium in Wallacetown against low in Harefield, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Harefield cumulative | Wallacetown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,151 | $9,376 | $225 |
| Year 3 | $28,285 | $28,980 | $695 |
| Year 5 | $48,584 | $49,778 | $1,194 |
| Year 10 | $104,906 | $107,485 | $2,579 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harefield or Wallacetown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Harefield runs $9,151 a year by car and Wallacetown $9,376, but most of the $225 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $75. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Harefield and Wallacetown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Harefield (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Wallacetown (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Harefield and $1,300 in Wallacetown. 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 Harefield and Wallacetown?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,007 from Harefield and $4,932 from Wallacetown to Wagga Wagga 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 Harefield and Wallacetown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Harefield costs a cumulative $104,906 and Wallacetown costs $107,485 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,579 in favour of Harefield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Harefield and Wallacetown suits you better?
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Sources: Wagga Wagga rates (OLG and Wagga Wagga 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.