Milsons Passage vs Mooney Mooney, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Milsons Passage (Hornsby rates (OLG) and Mooney Mooney (Central Coast rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (39.8 km and 38.3 km).
Mooney Mooney runs $697 a year cheaper than Milsons Passage, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,991.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mooney Mooney
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Milsons Passage | Mooney Mooney | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,454 | +$87 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,548 | $1,300 | +$248 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,988 | $6,976 | +$12 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,000 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,427 | $11,730 | +$697 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,839 | $7,154 | +$685 |
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 | Milsons Passage | Mooney Mooney | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Milsons Passage vs Mooney Mooney (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Milsons Passage and Mooney Mooney differ by $697 a year by car, but $350 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 $347, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Milsons Passage carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $685 per year, $7,839 from Milsons Passage versus $7,154 from Mooney Mooney.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Mooney Mooney by $87 a year, $1,454 against $1,541.
- Water and sewerage favours Mooney Mooney by $248 a year, $1,300 against $1,548.
- Driving commute favours Mooney Mooney by $12 a year, $6,976 against $6,988.
- Building insurance favours Mooney Mooney by $350 a year, $2,000 against $2,350.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Milsons Passage cumulative | Mooney Mooney cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,427 | $11,730 | $697 |
| Year 3 | $38,411 | $36,256 | $2,155 |
| Year 5 | $65,977 | $62,276 | $3,701 |
| Year 10 | $142,462 | $134,471 | $7,991 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Milsons Passage or Mooney Mooney cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Milsons Passage runs $12,427 a year by car and Mooney Mooney $11,730, but most of the $697 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $347. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Milsons Passage and Mooney Mooney?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Milsons Passage (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Mooney Mooney (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Milsons Passage and $1,300 in Mooney Mooney. 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 Milsons Passage and Mooney Mooney?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,988 from Milsons Passage and $6,976 from Mooney Mooney to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Milsons Passage and $2,400 from Mooney Mooney.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Milsons Passage and Mooney Mooney?
At 3% annual cost growth, Milsons Passage costs a cumulative $142,462 and Mooney Mooney costs $134,471 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,991 in favour of Mooney Mooney. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Milsons Passage and Mooney Mooney suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.