Mount Thorley vs Wylies Flat, 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 Thorley and Wylies Flat are both Singleton rates (OLG suburbs, 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 Thorley
Wylies Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Thorley | Wylies Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,650 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,391 | $22,491 | -$100 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,391 | $22,491 | -$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 Thorley | Wylies Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,615 | $2,615 | - |
| Unit | $2,113 | $2,113 | - |
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 Thorley vs Wylies Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Thorley and Wylies Flat 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. Wylies Flat carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $22,391 and $22,491 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 $1,341 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mount Thorley by $100 a year, $1,550 against $1,650.
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 Wylies Flat against low in Mount Thorley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Mount Thorley against low in Wylies Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.8 in Wylies Flat against 3.5 in Mount Thorley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Thorley cumulative | Wylies Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,391 | $22,491 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $69,208 | $69,517 | $309 |
| Year 5 | $118,877 | $119,408 | $531 |
| Year 10 | $256,688 | $257,834 | $1,146 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Thorley or Wylies Flat cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Thorley runs $22,391 a year by car and Wylies Flat $22,491, 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 Thorley and Wylies Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Mount Thorley (Singleton rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Wylies Flat (Singleton rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mount Thorley and $1,300 in Wylies Flat. 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 Thorley and Wylies Flat?
Mount Thorley carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Wylies Flat carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Thorley and Wylies Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Thorley costs a cumulative $256,688 and Wylies Flat costs $257,834 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,146 in favour of Mount Thorley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Thorley and Wylies Flat 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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Singleton rates (OLG and Singleton 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.