Austinmer vs Thirroul, 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 Thirroul are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 54.9 km and 56.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Thirroul runs $455 a year cheaper than Austinmer, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,216.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,200, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Thirroul
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Austinmer | Thirroul | 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 | $5,814 | +$205 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,400 | $2,150 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,786 | $11,331 | +$455 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,167 | $7,917 | +$250 |
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 | Thirroul | 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 Thirroul (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Austinmer and Thirroul differ by $455 a year by car, but $250 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 $205, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Austinmer carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,167 from Austinmer versus $7,917 from Thirroul.
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 Thirroul by $205 a year, $5,814 against $6,019.
- Building insurance favours Thirroul by $250 a year, $2,150 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Austinmer against medium in Thirroul, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Austinmer cumulative | Thirroul cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,786 | $11,331 | $455 |
| Year 3 | $36,429 | $35,023 | $1,406 |
| Year 5 | $62,573 | $60,158 | $2,415 |
| Year 10 | $135,113 | $129,897 | $5,216 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austinmer or Thirroul cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Austinmer runs $11,786 a year by car and Thirroul $11,331, but most of the $455 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $205. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Austinmer and Thirroul?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Austinmer (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Thirroul (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Austinmer and $1,548 in Thirroul. 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 Thirroul?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,019 from Austinmer and $5,814 from Thirroul to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Austinmer and $2,400 from Thirroul.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Austinmer and Thirroul?
At 3% annual cost growth, Austinmer costs a cumulative $135,113 and Thirroul costs $129,897 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,216 in favour of Thirroul. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Austinmer and Thirroul 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.