Montefiores vs Mount Arthur: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Montefiores and Mount Arthur are both Dubbo Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 44 km and 46 km from Dubbo CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Arthur runs $737 a year cheaper than Montefiores, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,449.
Over 10 years, Mount Arthur costs about $8,400 less to run than Montefiores — the same as paying $8,400 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Montefiores
Mount Arthur
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Montefiores | Mount Arthur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,270 | $1,270 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,919 | $6,832 | +$87 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,450 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,589 | $11,852 | +$737 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,070 | $7,420 | +$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 | Montefiores | Mount Arthur | 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 — Montefiores vs Mount Arthur (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Arthur costs $737 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,449 in favour of Mount Arthur.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Montefiores carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,070 from Montefiores versus $7,420 from Mount Arthur.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,270 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Arthur by $87 a year, $6,832 against $6,919.
- Building insurance favours Mount Arthur by $650 a year, $2,450 against $3,100.
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 Montefiores against medium in Mount Arthur, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Montefiores cumulative | Mount Arthur cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,589 | $11,852 | $737 |
| Year 3 | $38,911 | $36,633 | $2,278 |
| Year 5 | $66,837 | $62,924 | $3,913 |
| Year 10 | $144,319 | $135,870 | $8,449 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montefiores or Mount Arthur cheaper to live in?
Mount Arthur is cheaper to run by car at $11,852 per year versus $12,589 for Montefiores, a difference of $737 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Montefiores and Mount Arthur?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,270 in Montefiores (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG) and $1,270 in Mount Arthur (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Montefiores and $1,300 in Mount Arthur. 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 Montefiores and Mount Arthur?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,919 from Montefiores and $6,832 from Mount Arthur to Dubbo CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Montefiores and $2,400 from Mount Arthur.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Montefiores and Mount Arthur?
At 3% annual cost growth, Montefiores costs a cumulative $144,319 and Mount Arthur costs $135,870 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,449 in favour of Mount Arthur. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Montefiores and Mount Arthur 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: Dubbo Regional rates (OLG and Dubbo Regional 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.