Koonyum Range vs Wanganui: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Koonyum Range and Wanganui are both Byron rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wanganui runs $400 a year cheaper than Koonyum Range, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Koonyum Range
Wanganui
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Koonyum Range | Wanganui | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,649 | $1,649 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,549 | $23,149 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,749 | $7,349 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Koonyum Range | Wanganui | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 — Koonyum Range vs Wanganui (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Wanganui costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Wanganui.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,749 from Koonyum Range versus $7,349 from Wanganui.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,649 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Wanganui by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Koonyum Range against medium in Wanganui, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Koonyum Range cumulative | Wanganui cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,549 | $23,149 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $72,788 | $71,551 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $125,025 | $122,901 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $269,963 | $265,377 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koonyum Range or Wanganui cheaper to live in?
Wanganui is cheaper to run by car at $23,149 per year versus $23,549 for Koonyum Range, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Koonyum Range and Wanganui?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,649 in Koonyum Range (Byron rates (OLG) and $1,649 in Wanganui (Byron rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Koonyum Range and $1,300 in Wanganui. 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 Koonyum Range and Wanganui?
Koonyum Range 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. Wanganui 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Koonyum Range and $2,400 from Wanganui.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Koonyum Range and Wanganui?
At 3% annual cost growth, Koonyum Range costs a cumulative $269,963 and Wanganui costs $265,377 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Wanganui. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Koonyum Range and Wanganui 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: Byron rates (OLG and Byron 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.