Mount Ousley vs North Wollongong, 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 North Wollongong are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 66.3 km and 66.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Ousley runs $603 a year cheaper than North Wollongong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,913.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,900, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Wollongong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Ousley | North Wollongong | 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 | $3,921 | +$47 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $2,050 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,735 | $9,338 | -$603 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,167 | $7,817 | -$650 |
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 | North Wollongong | 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 North Wollongong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Ousley and North Wollongong differ by $603 a year by car, but $650 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 $47, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. North Wollongong carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,167 from Mount Ousley versus $7,817 from North Wollongong.
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 favours North Wollongong by $47 a year, $3,921 against $3,968.
- Building insurance favours Mount Ousley by $650 a year, $1,400 against $2,050.
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 high in North Wollongong against medium in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in North Wollongong against low in Mount Ousley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Ousley cumulative | North Wollongong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,735 | $9,338 | $603 |
| Year 3 | $26,999 | $28,863 | $1,864 |
| Year 5 | $46,375 | $49,577 | $3,202 |
| Year 10 | $100,137 | $107,050 | $6,913 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Ousley or North Wollongong cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Ousley runs $8,735 a year by car and North Wollongong $9,338, but most of the $603 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $47. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Ousley and North Wollongong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Mount Ousley (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in North Wollongong (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mount Ousley and $1,548 in North Wollongong. 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 North Wollongong?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,968 from Mount Ousley and $3,921 from North Wollongong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Ousley and $2,400 from North Wollongong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Ousley and North Wollongong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Ousley costs a cumulative $100,137 and North Wollongong costs $107,050 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,913 in favour of Mount Ousley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Ousley and North Wollongong suits you better?
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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.