Mulgrave vs South Windsor, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mulgrave and South Windsor are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 44.7 km and 45.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Windsor runs $400 a year cheaper than Mulgrave, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Windsor
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mulgrave | South Windsor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,892 | $6,842 | +$50 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,000 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,638 | $12,238 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,146 | $7,796 | +$350 |
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 | Mulgrave | South Windsor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Mulgrave vs South Windsor (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mulgrave and South Windsor differ by $400 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 $50, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Mulgrave carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $8,146 from Mulgrave versus $7,796 from South Windsor.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Windsor by $50 a year, $6,842 against $6,892.
- Building insurance favours South Windsor by $350 a year, $2,000 against $2,350.
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.
The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Mulgrave against 2.5 in South Windsor, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mulgrave cumulative | South Windsor cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,638 | $12,238 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $39,063 | $37,826 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $67,097 | $64,973 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $144,881 | $140,295 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mulgrave or South Windsor cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mulgrave runs $12,638 a year by car and South Windsor $12,238, but most of the $400 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $50. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mulgrave and South Windsor?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Mulgrave (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in South Windsor (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mulgrave and $1,548 in South Windsor. 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 Mulgrave and South Windsor?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,892 from Mulgrave and $6,842 from South Windsor to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mulgrave and $2,400 from South Windsor.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mulgrave and South Windsor?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mulgrave costs a cumulative $144,881 and South Windsor costs $140,295 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of South Windsor. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mulgrave and South Windsor suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% 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.