Albion Park vs Calderwood, 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 and Calderwood are both Shellharbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 88.4 km and 87.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Albion Park runs $407 a year cheaper than Calderwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,666.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,700, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Calderwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Albion Park | Calderwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,861 | $3,818 | +$43 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,300 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,124 | $9,531 | -$407 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,663 | $8,113 | -$450 |
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 | Calderwood | 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 vs Calderwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Albion Park and Calderwood differ by $407 a year by car, but $450 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 $43, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Calderwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,663 from Albion Park versus $8,113 from Calderwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,865 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Calderwood by $43 a year, $3,818 against $3,861.
- Building insurance favours Albion Park by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Calderwood against medium in Albion Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Albion Park cumulative | Calderwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,124 | $9,531 | $407 |
| Year 3 | $28,201 | $29,459 | $1,258 |
| Year 5 | $48,441 | $50,601 | $2,160 |
| Year 10 | $104,596 | $109,262 | $4,666 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albion Park or Calderwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Albion Park runs $9,124 a year by car and Calderwood $9,531, but most of the $407 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $43. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Albion Park and Calderwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Albion Park (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Calderwood (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Albion Park and $1,548 in Calderwood. 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 and Calderwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,861 from Albion Park and $3,818 from Calderwood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Albion Park and $2,400 from Calderwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Albion Park and Calderwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Albion Park costs a cumulative $104,596 and Calderwood costs $109,262 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,666 in favour of Albion Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Albion Park and Calderwood suits you better?
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Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.