Mullaway vs Woolgoolga, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mullaway and Woolgoolga are both Coffs Harbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 25 km and 21.2 km from Coffs Harbour CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Woolgoolga runs $561 a year cheaper than Mullaway, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,432.
Over 10 years, Woolgoolga costs about $6,400 less to run than Mullaway. That's about $12 a week.
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Woolgoolga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mullaway | Woolgoolga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,490 | $1,490 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,006 | $5,445 | +$561 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,006 | $5,445 | +$561 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,946 | $11,385 | +$561 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,946 | $11,385 | +$561 |
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 | Mullaway | Woolgoolga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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, Mullaway vs Woolgoolga (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Woolgoolga costs $561 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,432 in favour of Woolgoolga.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $561 per year. Mullaway is 25 km from Coffs Harbour CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $561 per year, $11,946 from Mullaway versus $11,385 from Woolgoolga.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,490 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Woolgoolga by $561 a year, $5,445 against $6,006.
- Building insurance is identical at $3,150 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Mullaway against 5.1 in Woolgoolga, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mullaway cumulative | Woolgoolga cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,946 | $11,385 | $561 |
| Year 3 | $36,924 | $35,190 | $1,734 |
| Year 5 | $63,423 | $60,445 | $2,978 |
| Year 10 | $136,948 | $130,516 | $6,432 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mullaway or Woolgoolga cheaper to live in?
Woolgoolga is cheaper to run by car at $11,385 per year versus $11,946 for Mullaway, a difference of $561 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mullaway and Woolgoolga?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,490 in Mullaway (Coffs Harbour rates (OLG) and $1,490 in Woolgoolga (Coffs Harbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mullaway and $1,300 in Woolgoolga. 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 Mullaway and Woolgoolga?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,006 from Mullaway and $5,445 from Woolgoolga to Coffs Harbour CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mullaway and Woolgoolga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mullaway costs a cumulative $136,948 and Woolgoolga costs $130,516 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,432 in favour of Woolgoolga. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mullaway and Woolgoolga suits you better?
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Sources: Coffs Harbour rates (OLG and Coffs Harbour 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.