Kooringal vs Mount Austin: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kooringal and Mount Austin are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 378.6 km and 380 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kooringal runs $300 a year cheaper than Mount Austin, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,700 | $2,000 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $21,894 | $22,194 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,694 | $6,994 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Kooringal | Mount Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,453 | $2,453 | - |
| Unit | $1,944 | $1,944 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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 costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Kooringal.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kooringal cumulative | Mount Austin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $21,894 | $22,194 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $67,672 | $68,599 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $116,238 | $117,831 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $250,990 | $254,429 | $3,439 |
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 $21,894 per year versus $22,194 for Mount Austin, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/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 $17,600 from Kooringal and $17,600 from Mount Austin to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/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 $250,990 and Mount Austin costs $254,429 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 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.
Related comparisons
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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.