Badagarang vs Cambewarra Village: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Badagarang and Cambewarra Village are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cambewarra Village runs $300 a year cheaper than Badagarang, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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 →Badagarang
Cambewarra Village
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Badagarang | Cambewarra Village | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $1,700 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,047 | $22,747 | +$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,247 | $6,947 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Badagarang | Cambewarra Village | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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 — Badagarang vs Cambewarra Village (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cambewarra Village costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Cambewarra Village.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,247 from Badagarang versus $6,947 from Cambewarra Village.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Cambewarra Village by $300 a year, $1,700 against $2,000.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated medium in Badagarang against low in Cambewarra Village, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Badagarang cumulative | Cambewarra Village cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,047 | $22,747 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $71,236 | $70,309 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $122,360 | $120,767 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $264,208 | $260,769 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Badagarang or Cambewarra Village cheaper to live in?
Cambewarra Village is cheaper to run by car at $22,747 per year versus $23,047 for Badagarang, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Badagarang and Cambewarra Village?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Badagarang (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Cambewarra Village (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Badagarang and $1,300 in Cambewarra Village. 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 Badagarang and Cambewarra Village?
Badagarang carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Cambewarra Village carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from Badagarang and $2,400 from Cambewarra Village.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Badagarang and Cambewarra Village?
At 3% annual cost growth, Badagarang costs a cumulative $264,208 and Cambewarra Village costs $260,769 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Cambewarra Village. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Badagarang and Cambewarra Village 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: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven 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.