Roughit vs Scotts 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
Roughit and Scotts Flat are both Singleton rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Scotts Flat runs $300 a year cheaper than Roughit, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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 →Roughit
Scotts Flat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Roughit | Scotts Flat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $2,150 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,291 | $22,991 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,491 | $7,191 | +$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 | Roughit | Scotts 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 — Roughit vs Scotts Flat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Scotts Flat costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Scotts Flat.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Roughit carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,491 from Roughit versus $7,191 from Scotts Flat.
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 Scotts Flat by $300 a year, $2,150 against $2,450.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Roughit against low in Scotts Flat, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Roughit cumulative | Scotts Flat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,291 | $22,991 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $71,990 | $71,063 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $123,655 | $122,062 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $267,005 | $263,566 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Roughit or Scotts Flat cheaper to live in?
Scotts Flat is cheaper to run by car at $22,991 per year versus $23,291 for Roughit, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Roughit and Scotts Flat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Roughit (Singleton rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Scotts Flat (Singleton rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Roughit and $1,300 in Scotts 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 Roughit and Scotts Flat?
Roughit 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. Scotts 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Roughit and $2,400 from Scotts Flat.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Roughit and Scotts Flat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Roughit costs a cumulative $267,005 and Scotts Flat costs $263,566 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Scotts Flat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Roughit and Scotts Flat 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.