Mendooran vs Yarragrin, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mendooran and Yarragrin are both Warrumbungle rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yarragrin runs $800 a year cheaper than Mendooran, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,172.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,200, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Yarragrin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mendooran | Yarragrin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $698 | $698 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,550 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,548 | $21,748 | +$800 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,548 | $21,748 | +$800 |
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 | Mendooran | Yarragrin | 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, Mendooran vs Yarragrin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mendooran and Yarragrin differ by $800 a year by car, but $800 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Mendooran carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $22,548 from Mendooran versus $21,748 from Yarragrin.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $698 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Yarragrin by $800 a year, $1,550 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Mendooran against low in Yarragrin, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mendooran cumulative | Yarragrin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,548 | $21,748 | $800 |
| Year 3 | $69,694 | $67,221 | $2,473 |
| Year 5 | $119,710 | $115,463 | $4,247 |
| Year 10 | $258,488 | $249,316 | $9,172 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mendooran or Yarragrin cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mendooran runs $22,548 a year by car and Yarragrin $21,748, but most of the $800 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mendooran and Yarragrin?
Annual council rates for a house are $698 in Mendooran (Warrumbungle rates (OLG) and $698 in Yarragrin (Warrumbungle rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mendooran and $1,300 in Yarragrin. 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 Mendooran and Yarragrin?
Mendooran 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. Yarragrin 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mendooran and Yarragrin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mendooran costs a cumulative $258,488 and Yarragrin costs $249,316 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,172 in favour of Yarragrin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mendooran and Yarragrin suits you better?
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Sources: Warrumbungle rates (OLG and Warrumbungle 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.