Mulgrave vs 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 Windsor are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 44.7 km and 46.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Windsor runs $376 a year cheaper than Mulgrave, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,310.
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 →Mulgrave
Windsor
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mulgrave | Windsor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,892 | $6,816 | +$76 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,250 | $2,950 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $13,538 | $13,162 | +$376 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,046 | $8,746 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Mulgrave | 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 Windsor (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Windsor costs $376 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,310 in favour of Windsor.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Mulgrave carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $9,046 from Mulgrave versus $8,746 from 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 Windsor by $76 a year, $6,816 against $6,892.
- Building insurance favours Windsor by $300 a year, $2,950 against $3,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Mulgrave against low in Windsor, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mulgrave cumulative | Windsor cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,538 | $13,162 | $376 |
| Year 3 | $41,845 | $40,682 | $1,163 |
| Year 5 | $71,875 | $69,879 | $1,996 |
| Year 10 | $155,198 | $150,888 | $4,310 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mulgrave or Windsor cheaper to live in?
Windsor is cheaper to run by car at $13,162 per year versus $13,538 for Mulgrave, a difference of $376 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mulgrave and 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 Windsor (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mulgrave and $1,548 in 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 Windsor?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,892 from Mulgrave and $6,816 from Windsor to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mulgrave and $2,400 from Windsor.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mulgrave and Windsor?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mulgrave costs a cumulative $155,198 and Windsor costs $150,888 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,310 in favour of Windsor. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mulgrave and Windsor 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.