Mcgraths Hill vs Oakville: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mcgraths Hill and Oakville are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 44.4 km and 41.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Oakville runs $582 a year cheaper than Mcgraths Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,672.
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 →Mcgraths Hill
Oakville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mcgraths Hill | Oakville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,905 | $6,973 | -$68 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,250 | $2,600 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $13,551 | $12,969 | +$582 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,046 | $8,396 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Mcgraths Hill | Oakville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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 — Mcgraths Hill vs Oakville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Oakville costs $582 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,672 in favour of Oakville.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Mcgraths Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $9,046 from Mcgraths Hill versus $8,396 from Oakville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mcgraths Hill by $68 a year, $6,905 against $6,973.
- Building insurance favours Oakville by $650 a year, $2,600 against $3,250.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Mcgraths Hill against medium in Oakville, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Oakville against 4.6 in Mcgraths Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mcgraths Hill cumulative | Oakville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,551 | $12,969 | $582 |
| Year 3 | $41,885 | $40,086 | $1,799 |
| Year 5 | $71,944 | $68,854 | $3,090 |
| Year 10 | $155,347 | $148,675 | $6,672 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mcgraths Hill or Oakville cheaper to live in?
Oakville is cheaper to run by car at $12,969 per year versus $13,551 for Mcgraths Hill, a difference of $582 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mcgraths Hill and Oakville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Mcgraths Hill (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Oakville (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mcgraths Hill and $1,548 in Oakville. 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 Mcgraths Hill and Oakville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,905 from Mcgraths Hill and $6,973 from Oakville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mcgraths Hill and $2,400 from Oakville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mcgraths Hill and Oakville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mcgraths Hill costs a cumulative $155,347 and Oakville costs $148,675 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,672 in favour of Oakville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mcgraths Hill and Oakville 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: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.