Jollys Lookout vs Wights Mountain, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain are both Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs, sitting 19.9 km and 19.6 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wights Mountain runs $303 a year cheaper than Jollys Lookout, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,473.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wights Mountain
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Jollys Lookout | Wights Mountain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,309 | $1,309 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,144 | $2,144 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,224 | $5,171 | +$53 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,900 | -$400 |
| Total (driving) | $11,027 | $10,724 | +$303 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,995 | $5,745 | +$250 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Jollys Lookout | Wights Mountain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Jollys Lookout vs Wights Mountain (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain differ by $303 a year by car, but $250 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 $53, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $5,995 from Jollys Lookout versus $5,745 from Wights Mountain.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,309 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,144 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wights Mountain by $53 a year, $5,171 against $5,224.
- Building insurance favours Wights Mountain by $250 a year, $2,100 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 commute distance and the insurance band.
The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Wights Mountain against 7.1 in Jollys Lookout, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Jollys Lookout cumulative | Wights Mountain cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,027 | $10,724 | $303 |
| Year 3 | $34,083 | $33,147 | $936 |
| Year 5 | $58,544 | $56,935 | $1,609 |
| Year 10 | $126,412 | $122,939 | $3,473 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jollys Lookout or Wights Mountain cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Jollys Lookout runs $11,027 a year by car and Wights Mountain $10,724, but most of the $303 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $53. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,309 in Jollys Lookout (Moreton Bay Regional Council) and $1,309 in Wights Mountain (Moreton Bay Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,144 in Jollys Lookout and $2,144 in Wights Mountain. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,224 from Jollys Lookout and $5,171 from Wights Mountain to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Jollys Lookout and $192 from Wights Mountain.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain?
At 3% annual cost growth, Jollys Lookout costs a cumulative $126,412 and Wights Mountain costs $122,939 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,473 in favour of Wights Mountain. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Jollys Lookout and Wights Mountain suits you better?
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Sources: Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council 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.