Audley vs Goarra, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Audley and Goarra are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26 km and 29 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Audley runs $328 a year cheaper than Goarra, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,760.
Over 10 years, Audley costs about $3,800 less to run than Goarra. That's about $7 a week.
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Goarra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Audley | Goarra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,132 | $6,460 | -$328 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,147 | $11,475 | -$328 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $7,415 | - |
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 | Audley | Goarra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Audley vs Goarra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Audley costs $328 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,760 in favour of Audley.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $328 per year. Goarra is 29 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,415 and $7,415 a year, so the $328 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Audley by $328 a year, $6,132 against $6,460.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.8 in Audley against 7.8 in Goarra, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Audley cumulative | Goarra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,147 | $11,475 | $328 |
| Year 3 | $34,454 | $35,468 | $1,014 |
| Year 5 | $59,181 | $60,922 | $1,741 |
| Year 10 | $127,788 | $131,548 | $3,760 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Audley or Goarra cheaper to live in?
Audley is cheaper to run by car at $11,147 per year versus $11,475 for Goarra, a difference of $328 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Audley and Goarra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Audley (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Goarra (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Audley and $1,548 in Goarra. 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 Audley and Goarra?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,132 from Audley and $6,460 from Goarra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Audley and $2,400 from Goarra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Audley and Goarra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Audley costs a cumulative $127,788 and Goarra costs $131,548 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,760 in favour of Audley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Audley and Goarra suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.