Balgownie vs Tarrawanna, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balgownie and Tarrawanna are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 65.4 km and 64.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Balgownie runs $532 a year cheaper than Tarrawanna, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,099.
Over 10 years, Balgownie costs about $6,100 less to run than Tarrawanna. That's about $12 a week.
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Tarrawanna
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balgownie | Tarrawanna | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,170 | $4,452 | -$282 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,137 | $9,669 | -$532 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,367 | $7,617 | -$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 | Balgownie | Tarrawanna | 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, Balgownie vs Tarrawanna (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balgownie costs $532 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,099 in favour of Balgownie.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $282 per year. Balgownie is 65.4 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,367 from Balgownie versus $7,617 from Tarrawanna.
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 Balgownie by $282 a year, $4,170 against $4,452.
- Building insurance favours Balgownie by $250 a year, $1,600 against $1,850.
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 Tarrawanna against medium in Balgownie, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.9 in Balgownie against 5.6 in Tarrawanna, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balgownie cumulative | Tarrawanna cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,137 | $9,669 | $532 |
| Year 3 | $28,242 | $29,886 | $1,644 |
| Year 5 | $48,510 | $51,334 | $2,824 |
| Year 10 | $104,745 | $110,844 | $6,099 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balgownie or Tarrawanna cheaper to live in?
Balgownie is cheaper to run by car at $9,137 per year versus $9,669 for Tarrawanna, a difference of $532 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balgownie and Tarrawanna?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Balgownie (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Tarrawanna (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Balgownie and $1,548 in Tarrawanna. 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 Balgownie and Tarrawanna?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Balgownie and $4,452 from Tarrawanna to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balgownie and $2,400 from Tarrawanna.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balgownie and Tarrawanna?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balgownie costs a cumulative $104,745 and Tarrawanna costs $110,844 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,099 in favour of Balgownie. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balgownie and Tarrawanna 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.