Montefiores vs Wellington, 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 Wellington are both Dubbo Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 44 km and 46.9 km from Dubbo CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wellington runs $638 a year cheaper than Montefiores, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,314.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wellington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Montefiores | Wellington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,270 | $1,270 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,919 | $6,781 | +$138 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,919 | $6,781 | +$138 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,839 | $11,201 | +$638 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,839 | $11,201 | +$638 |
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 | Wellington | 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 Wellington (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Montefiores and Wellington differ by $638 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 $138, 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 $638 per year, $11,839 from Montefiores versus $11,201 from Wellington.
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 Wellington by $138 a year, $6,781 against $6,919.
- Building insurance favours Wellington 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 Wellington, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Montefiores cumulative | Wellington cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,839 | $11,201 | $638 |
| Year 3 | $36,593 | $34,621 | $1,972 |
| Year 5 | $62,855 | $59,468 | $3,387 |
| Year 10 | $135,721 | $128,407 | $7,314 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montefiores or Wellington cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Montefiores runs $11,839 a year by car and Wellington $11,201, but most of the $638 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $138. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Montefiores and Wellington?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,270 in Montefiores (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG) and $1,270 in Wellington (Dubbo Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Montefiores and $1,300 in Wellington. 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 Wellington?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,919 from Montefiores and $6,781 from Wellington 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 Wellington?
At 3% annual cost growth, Montefiores costs a cumulative $135,721 and Wellington costs $128,407 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,314 in favour of Wellington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Montefiores and Wellington 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.