True annual cost of living in Mount Colah, NSW 2079
Living in a house in Mount Colah costs about $11,395 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Mount Colah sits 23.2 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $11,735, with the $2,300 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 23.2km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $3,356. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.8/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 66% of Hornsby suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Mount Colah's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Getting around Mount Colah
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Mount Kuring-gai, 1,666 m away, about a 21 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Lady Davidson Private Hospital, 2,718 m away, about a 34 minute walk.
Supermarkets
1
Cafes
1
Parks
6
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Mount Colah to the CBD?
Public transport saves Mount Colah residents $3,356 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,756 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Mount Colah?
Mount Colah falls under Hornsby Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,541 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,541 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Mount Colah?
Running a unit in Mount Colah costs approximately $11,735 per year by car or $8,379 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,541, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $590. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Mount Colah close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Mount Colah is Mount Kuring-gai, a train stop about 1,666 m away, about a 21 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.
What is the closest hospital to Mount Colah?
The closest hospital to the centre of Mount Colah is Lady Davidson Private Hospital, about 2,718 m away, about a 34 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.
What shops and parks are in Mount Colah?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Mount Colah there is 1 supermarket, 1 cafe and 6 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Data sources: Council rates: Hornsby rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.