Keiraville vs Mount Keira, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Keiraville and Mount Keira are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 68 km and 68.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $101 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 $1,200, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Keira
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Keiraville | Mount Keira | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,565 | $3,416 | +$149 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,300 | $1,550 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,232 | $8,333 | -$101 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,067 | $7,317 | -$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: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Keiraville | Mount Keira | 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, Keiraville vs Mount Keira (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Keiraville and Mount Keira differ by $101 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 $149, 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, $7,067 from Keiraville versus $7,317 from Mount Keira.
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 Mount Keira by $149 a year, $3,416 against $3,565.
- Building insurance favours Keiraville by $250 a year, $1,300 against $1,550.
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 Mount Keira against medium in Keiraville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Keiraville cumulative | Mount Keira cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,232 | $8,333 | $101 |
| Year 3 | $25,444 | $25,756 | $312 |
| Year 5 | $43,705 | $44,241 | $536 |
| Year 10 | $94,371 | $95,529 | $1,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keiraville or Mount Keira cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Keiraville runs $8,232 a year by car and Mount Keira $8,333, but most of the $101 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $149. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Keiraville and Mount Keira?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Keiraville (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Keira (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Keiraville and $1,548 in Mount Keira. 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 Keiraville and Mount Keira?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,565 from Keiraville and $3,416 from Mount Keira to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Keiraville and $2,400 from Mount Keira.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Keiraville and Mount Keira?
At 3% annual cost growth, Keiraville costs a cumulative $94,371 and Mount Keira costs $95,529 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,158 in favour of Keiraville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Keiraville and Mount Keira suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.