Mount Austin vs Turvey Park: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mount Austin and Turvey Park are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 380 km and 379.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Austin runs $450 a year cheaper than Turvey Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,159.
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 →Mount Austin
Turvey Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Austin | Turvey Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,450 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,194 | $22,644 | -$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,994 | $7,444 | -$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Mount Austin | Turvey Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,453 | $2,453 | - |
| Unit | $1,944 | $1,944 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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 costs $450 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,159 in favour of Mount Austin.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Turvey Park carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,994 from Mount Austin versus $7,444 from Turvey Park.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Austin cumulative | Turvey Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,194 | $22,644 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $68,599 | $69,990 | $1,391 |
| Year 5 | $117,831 | $120,220 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $254,429 | $259,588 | $5,159 |
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 $22,194 per year versus $22,644 for Turvey Park, a difference of $450 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/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 $17,600 from Mount Austin and $17,600 from Turvey Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Austin and $2,400 from Turvey Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Austin and Turvey Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Austin costs a cumulative $254,429 and Turvey Park costs $259,588 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,159 in favour of Mount Austin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Austin and Turvey 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: 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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.