Kooringal vs Mount Austin: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kooringal and Mount Austin are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.8 km and 3.2 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 $108 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 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 →Kooringal
Mount Austin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kooringal | Mount Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,265 | $1,073 | +$192 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,700 | $2,000 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,559 | $5,667 | -$108 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,694 | $6,994 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Kooringal | Mount Austin | 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 — Kooringal vs Mount Austin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kooringal and Mount Austin cost within $108 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $1,238, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $6,694 from Kooringal versus $6,994 from Mount Austin.
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 Mount Austin by $192 a year, $1,073 against $1,265.
- Building insurance favours Kooringal by $300 a year, $1,700 against $2,000.
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 Mount Austin against low in Kooringal, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Kooringal against 1.6 in Mount Austin, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kooringal cumulative | Mount Austin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,559 | $5,667 | $108 |
| Year 3 | $17,182 | $17,516 | $334 |
| Year 5 | $29,513 | $30,087 | $574 |
| Year 10 | $63,728 | $64,966 | $1,238 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kooringal or Mount Austin cheaper to live in?
Kooringal is cheaper to run by car at $5,559 per year versus $5,667 for Mount Austin, a difference of $108 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kooringal and Mount Austin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Kooringal (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Mount Austin (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Kooringal and $1,300 in Mount Austin. 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 Kooringal and Mount Austin?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,265 from Kooringal and $1,073 from Mount Austin to Wagga Wagga CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kooringal and $2,400 from Mount Austin.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kooringal and Mount Austin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kooringal costs a cumulative $63,728 and Mount Austin costs $64,966 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,238 in favour of Kooringal. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kooringal and Mount Austin 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.
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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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.