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 $607 a year cheaper than Calderwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,958.
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 →Albion Park
Calderwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Albion Park | Calderwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,861 | $3,818 | +$43 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $3,100 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,724 | $10,331 | -$607 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,263 | $8,913 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $607 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,958 in favour of Albion Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Calderwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,263 from Albion Park versus $8,913 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 $650 a year, $2,450 against $3,100.
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 | $9,724 | $10,331 | $607 |
| Year 3 | $30,056 | $31,932 | $1,876 |
| Year 5 | $51,626 | $54,849 | $3,223 |
| Year 10 | $111,475 | $118,433 | $6,958 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albion Park or Calderwood cheaper to live in?
Albion Park is cheaper to run by car at $9,724 per year versus $10,331 for Calderwood, a difference of $607 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $111,475 and Calderwood costs $118,433 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,958 in favour of Albion Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Albion Park and Calderwood 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.