Mount Austin vs Turvey 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
Mount Austin and Turvey Park are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.2 km and 2.2 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $75 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run.
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Turvey Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Austin | Turvey Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $748 | +$325 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $748 | +$325 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,250 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,517 | $5,592 | -$75 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,517 | $5,592 | -$75 |
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 | Mount Austin | Turvey Park | 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, Mount Austin vs Turvey Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Austin and Turvey Park cost within $75 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $860, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Turvey Park carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $5,517 and $5,592 a year, so the $75 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Turvey Park by $325 a year, $748 against $1,073.
- Building insurance favours Mount Austin by $400 a year, $1,850 against $2,250.
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 medium in Turvey Park against low in Mount Austin, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Turvey Park against 1.6 in Mount Austin, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Austin cumulative | Turvey Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,517 | $5,592 | $75 |
| Year 3 | $17,052 | $17,284 | $232 |
| Year 5 | $29,291 | $29,689 | $398 |
| Year 10 | $63,246 | $64,106 | $860 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Austin or Turvey Park cheaper to live in?
Mount Austin is cheaper to run by car at $5,517 per year versus $5,592 for Turvey Park, a difference of $75 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Austin and Turvey Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Mount Austin (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Turvey Park (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mount Austin and $1,300 in Turvey 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 Mount Austin and Turvey Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,073 from Mount Austin and $748 from Turvey Park 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 Mount Austin and Turvey Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Austin costs a cumulative $63,246 and Turvey Park costs $64,106 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $860 in favour of Mount Austin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Austin and Turvey Park 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.