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 $587 a year cheaper than Montefiores, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,729.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,700, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Arthur
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Montefiores | Mount Arthur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,270 | $1,270 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,919 | $6,832 | +$87 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,919 | $6,832 | +$87 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,839 | $11,252 | +$587 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,839 | $11,252 | +$587 |
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 | 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
Montefiores and Mount Arthur differ by $587 a year by car, but $500 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 $87, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Montefiores carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $587 per year, $11,839 from Montefiores versus $11,252 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 $500 a year, $1,850 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 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 | $11,839 | $11,252 | $587 |
| Year 3 | $36,593 | $34,779 | $1,814 |
| Year 5 | $62,855 | $59,738 | $3,117 |
| Year 10 | $135,721 | $128,992 | $6,729 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montefiores or Mount Arthur cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Montefiores runs $11,839 a year by car and Mount Arthur $11,252, but most of the $587 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $87. 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). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Montefiores and Mount Arthur?
At 3% annual cost growth, Montefiores costs a cumulative $135,721 and Mount Arthur costs $128,992 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,729 in favour of Mount Arthur. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Montefiores and Mount Arthur suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.