Balaclava vs Braemar, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balaclava and Braemar are both Wingecarribee rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 92.3 km and 91.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $277 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 $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Braemar
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balaclava | Braemar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,140 | $2,140 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,032 | $4,005 | +$27 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,300 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,022 | $8,745 | +$277 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,140 | +$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 | Balaclava | Braemar | 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, Balaclava vs Braemar (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balaclava and Braemar differ by $277 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 $27, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,390 from Balaclava versus $7,140 from Braemar.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,140 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Braemar by $27 a year, $4,005 against $4,032.
- Building insurance favours Braemar by $250 a year, $1,300 against $1,550.
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 medium in Balaclava against low in Braemar, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.8 in Balaclava against 4.8 in Braemar, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balaclava cumulative | Braemar cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,022 | $8,745 | $277 |
| Year 3 | $27,886 | $27,030 | $856 |
| Year 5 | $47,899 | $46,428 | $1,471 |
| Year 10 | $103,427 | $100,252 | $3,175 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balaclava or Braemar cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balaclava runs $9,022 a year by car and Braemar $8,745, but most of the $277 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $27. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balaclava and Braemar?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,140 in Balaclava (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) and $2,140 in Braemar (Wingecarribee rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Balaclava and $1,300 in Braemar. 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 Balaclava and Braemar?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,032 from Balaclava and $4,005 from Braemar to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balaclava and $2,400 from Braemar.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balaclava and Braemar?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balaclava costs a cumulative $103,427 and Braemar costs $100,252 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,175 in favour of Braemar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balaclava and Braemar suits you better?
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Sources: Wingecarribee rates (OLG and Wingecarribee 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.