Albion Park Rail vs Haywards Bay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Albion Park Rail (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and Haywards Bay (Wollongong rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (85.1 km and 84.4 km).
The two sit within $123 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,400, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Albion Park Rail
Haywards Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Albion Park Rail | Haywards Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,819 | +$46 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,718 | $3,687 | +$31 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,300 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,231 | $9,354 | -$123 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,913 | $8,067 | -$154 |
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 | Albion Park Rail | Haywards Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Albion Park Rail vs Haywards Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Albion Park Rail and Haywards Bay differ by $123 a year by car, but $200 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 $77, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Haywards Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,913 and $8,067 a year, so the $123 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Haywards Bay by $46 a year, $1,819 against $1,865.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Haywards Bay by $31 a year, $3,687 against $3,718.
- Building insurance favours Albion Park Rail by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in Haywards Bay against low in Albion Park Rail, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Albion Park Rail cumulative | Haywards Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,231 | $9,354 | $123 |
| Year 3 | $28,532 | $28,912 | $380 |
| Year 5 | $49,009 | $49,662 | $653 |
| Year 10 | $105,823 | $107,233 | $1,410 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albion Park Rail or Haywards Bay cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Albion Park Rail runs $9,231 a year by car and Haywards Bay $9,354, but most of the $123 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $77. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Albion Park Rail and Haywards Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Albion Park Rail (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Haywards Bay (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Albion Park Rail and $1,548 in Haywards Bay. 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 Albion Park Rail and Haywards Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,718 from Albion Park Rail and $3,687 from Haywards Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Albion Park Rail and $2,400 from Haywards Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Albion Park Rail and Haywards Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Albion Park Rail costs a cumulative $105,823 and Haywards Bay costs $107,233 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,410 in favour of Albion Park Rail. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Albion Park Rail and Haywards Bay suits you better?
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.
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Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.