Austinmer vs Coledale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Austinmer and Coledale are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 54.9 km and 52.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $173 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 $2,000, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Coledale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Austinmer | Coledale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,019 | $6,296 | -$277 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,400 | $1,950 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,786 | $11,613 | +$173 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,167 | $7,717 | +$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 | Austinmer | Coledale | 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, Austinmer vs Coledale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Austinmer and Coledale differ by $173 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 $277, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Austinmer carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $8,167 from Austinmer versus $7,717 from Coledale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Austinmer by $277 a year, $6,019 against $6,296.
- Building insurance favours Coledale by $450 a year, $1,950 against $2,400.
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 Austinmer against medium in Coledale, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Austinmer cumulative | Coledale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,786 | $11,613 | $173 |
| Year 3 | $36,429 | $35,895 | $534 |
| Year 5 | $62,573 | $61,655 | $918 |
| Year 10 | $135,113 | $133,130 | $1,983 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austinmer or Coledale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Austinmer runs $11,786 a year by car and Coledale $11,613, but most of the $173 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $277. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Austinmer and Coledale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Austinmer (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Coledale (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Austinmer and $1,548 in Coledale. 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 Austinmer and Coledale?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,019 from Austinmer and $6,296 from Coledale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Austinmer and $2,400 from Coledale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Austinmer and Coledale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Austinmer costs a cumulative $135,113 and Coledale costs $133,130 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,983 in favour of Coledale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Austinmer and Coledale suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong 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.