Mount Ousley vs Mount Pleasant, 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 Ousley and Mount Pleasant are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 66.3 km and 66.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $100 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 the gap between these two is about $1,100, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Mount Ousley
Mount Pleasant
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Ousley | Mount Pleasant | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,968 | $3,968 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $1,300 | +$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,735 | $8,635 | +$100 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,167 | $7,067 | +$100 |
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 Ousley | Mount Pleasant | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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 Ousley vs Mount Pleasant (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant differ by $100 a year by car, but $100 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Mount Ousley carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,167 and $7,067 a year, so the $100 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $3,968 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mount Pleasant by $100 a year, $1,300 against $1,400.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Mount Ousley against low in Mount Pleasant, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Mount Pleasant against low in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.2 in Mount Pleasant against 8 in Mount Ousley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Ousley cumulative | Mount Pleasant cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,735 | $8,635 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $26,999 | $26,690 | $309 |
| Year 5 | $46,375 | $45,844 | $531 |
| Year 10 | $100,137 | $98,991 | $1,146 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Ousley or Mount Pleasant cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Ousley runs $8,735 a year by car and Mount Pleasant $8,635, but most of the $100 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Mount Ousley (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Pleasant (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mount Ousley and $1,548 in Mount Pleasant. 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 Ousley and Mount Pleasant?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,968 from Mount Ousley and $3,968 from Mount Pleasant to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Ousley and $2,400 from Mount Pleasant.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Ousley costs a cumulative $100,137 and Mount Pleasant costs $98,991 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,146 in favour of Mount Pleasant. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant suits you better?
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.
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.