Moorong vs Wagga Wagga: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Moorong and Wagga Wagga are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.5 km and 0.6 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wagga Wagga runs $956 a year cheaper than Moorong, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,959.
Over 10 years, Wagga Wagga costs about $11,000 less to run than Moorong — the same as paying $11,000 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 →Moorong
Wagga Wagga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moorong | Wagga Wagga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,170 | $514 | +$656 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,864 | $5,908 | +$956 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,094 | $7,794 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Moorong | Wagga Wagga | 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 — Moorong vs Wagga Wagga (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Wagga Wagga costs $956 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,959 in favour of Wagga Wagga.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $656 per year. Moorong is 3.5 km from Wagga Wagga CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,094 from Moorong versus $7,794 from Wagga Wagga.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,294 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wagga Wagga by $656 a year, $514 against $1,170.
- Building insurance favours Wagga Wagga by $300 a year, $2,800 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Moorong against low in Wagga Wagga, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.2 in Wagga Wagga against 1 in Moorong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Moorong cumulative | Wagga Wagga cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,864 | $5,908 | $956 |
| Year 3 | $21,216 | $18,261 | $2,955 |
| Year 5 | $36,442 | $31,366 | $5,076 |
| Year 10 | $78,688 | $67,729 | $10,959 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moorong or Wagga Wagga cheaper to live in?
Wagga Wagga is cheaper to run by car at $5,908 per year versus $6,864 for Moorong, a difference of $956 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Moorong and Wagga Wagga?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Moorong (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Wagga Wagga (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Moorong and $1,300 in Wagga Wagga. 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 Moorong and Wagga Wagga?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,170 from Moorong and $514 from Wagga Wagga to Wagga Wagga CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Moorong and $2,400 from Wagga Wagga.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moorong and Wagga Wagga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moorong costs a cumulative $78,688 and Wagga Wagga costs $67,729 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,959 in favour of Wagga Wagga. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Moorong and Wagga Wagga 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: Wagga Wagga rates (OLG and Wagga Wagga 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.