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. That's about $21 a week.
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Wagga Wagga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moorong | Wagga Wagga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,170 | $514 | +$656 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,170 | $514 | +$656 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,850 | $2,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,614 | $5,658 | +$956 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,614 | $5,658 | +$956 |
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 | 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 $956 per year, $6,614 from Moorong versus $5,658 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, $2,550 against $2,850.
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 | $6,614 | $5,658 | $956 |
| Year 3 | $20,443 | $17,488 | $2,955 |
| Year 5 | $35,115 | $30,039 | $5,076 |
| Year 10 | $75,822 | $64,863 | $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 $5,658 per year versus $6,614 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). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moorong and Wagga Wagga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moorong costs a cumulative $75,822 and Wagga Wagga costs $64,863 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 suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.