Mount Colah vs North Turramurra, 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 Colah (Hornsby rates (OLG) and North Turramurra (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (23.2 km and 20.4 km).
Mount Colah runs $553 a year cheaper than North Turramurra, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,340.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,300, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Turramurra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Colah | North Turramurra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $2,189 | -$648 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,756 | $5,311 | +$445 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,200 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,695 | $11,248 | -$553 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,339 | $8,337 | -$998 |
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 Colah | North Turramurra | 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, Mount Colah vs North Turramurra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Colah and North Turramurra differ by $553 a year by car, but $350 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $203, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $648 per year.
On public transport the gap is $998 per year, $7,339 from Mount Colah versus $8,337 from North Turramurra.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Mount Colah by $648 a year, $1,541 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Turramurra by $445 a year, $5,311 against $5,756.
- Building insurance favours Mount Colah by $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
The catchment state school scores 10 in North Turramurra against 8.1 in Mount Colah, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Colah cumulative | North Turramurra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,695 | $11,248 | $553 |
| Year 3 | $33,057 | $34,766 | $1,709 |
| Year 5 | $56,781 | $59,717 | $2,936 |
| Year 10 | $122,606 | $128,946 | $6,340 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Colah or North Turramurra cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Colah runs $10,695 a year by car and North Turramurra $11,248, but most of the $553 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $203. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Colah and North Turramurra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Mount Colah (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $2,189 in North Turramurra (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mount Colah and $1,548 in North Turramurra. 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 Colah and North Turramurra?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,756 from Mount Colah and $5,311 from North Turramurra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Colah and $2,400 from North Turramurra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Colah and North Turramurra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Colah costs a cumulative $122,606 and North Turramurra costs $128,946 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,340 in favour of Mount Colah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Colah and North Turramurra suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.