Mount Dee vs Telarah: 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 Dee and Telarah are both Maitland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 128.7 km and 129.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Telarah runs $300 a year cheaper than Mount Dee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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 Dee
Telarah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Dee | Telarah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,970 | $1,970 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,047 | $23,747 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,847 | $8,547 | +$300 |
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 Dee | Telarah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
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 Dee vs Telarah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Telarah costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Telarah.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Mount Dee carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,847 from Mount Dee versus $8,547 from Telarah.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Dee cumulative | Telarah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,047 | $23,747 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $74,327 | $73,400 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $127,669 | $126,076 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $275,672 | $272,233 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Dee or Telarah cheaper to live in?
Telarah is cheaper to run by car at $23,747 per year versus $24,047 for Mount Dee, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Dee and Telarah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Mount Dee (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,970 in Telarah (Maitland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Mount Dee and $1,377 in Telarah. 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 Dee and Telarah?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Mount Dee and $17,600 from Telarah to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Dee and $2,400 from Telarah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Dee and Telarah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Dee costs a cumulative $275,672 and Telarah costs $272,233 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Telarah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Dee and Telarah 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: Maitland rates (OLG and Maitland 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.