Morisset vs Windermere Park: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Morisset and Windermere Park are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 87.8 km and 88.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Windermere Park runs $656 a year cheaper than Morisset, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,520.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Morisset
Windermere Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Morisset | Windermere Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,835 | $3,879 | -$44 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,500 | $2,800 | +$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,475 | $9,819 | +$656 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,040 | $8,340 | +$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Morisset | Windermere Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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 — Morisset vs Windermere Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Windermere Park costs $656 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,520 in favour of Windermere Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Morisset carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $9,040 from Morisset versus $8,340 from Windermere Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Morisset by $44 a year, $3,835 against $3,879.
- Building insurance favours Windermere Park by $700 a year, $2,800 against $3,500.
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 high in Morisset against low in Windermere Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Morisset cumulative | Windermere Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,475 | $9,819 | $656 |
| Year 3 | $32,377 | $30,350 | $2,027 |
| Year 5 | $55,613 | $52,130 | $3,483 |
| Year 10 | $120,084 | $112,564 | $7,520 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morisset or Windermere Park cheaper to live in?
Windermere Park is cheaper to run by car at $9,819 per year versus $10,475 for Morisset, a difference of $656 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Morisset and Windermere Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Morisset (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Windermere Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Morisset and $1,377 in Windermere Park. 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 Morisset and Windermere Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,835 from Morisset and $3,879 from Windermere Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Morisset and $2,400 from Windermere Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Morisset and Windermere Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Morisset costs a cumulative $120,084 and Windermere Park costs $112,564 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,520 in favour of Windermere Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Morisset and Windermere Park 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: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.