Barren Grounds vs Jamberoo, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Barren Grounds and Jamberoo are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Jamberoo runs $2,176 a year cheaper than Barren Grounds, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $24,945.
Over 10 years, Jamberoo costs about $24,900 less to run than Barren Grounds. That's about $48 a week.
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Jamberoo
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Barren Grounds | Jamberoo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,737 | $4,211 | +$2,526 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,150 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,044 | $9,868 | +$2,176 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,707 | $8,057 | -$350 |
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 | Barren Grounds | Jamberoo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,442 | +$278 |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,001 | +$208 |
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, Barren Grounds vs Jamberoo (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jamberoo costs $2,176 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $24,945 in favour of Jamberoo.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $2,526 per year. Jamberoo is 96.4 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,707 from Barren Grounds versus $8,057 from Jamberoo.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,959 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Jamberoo by $2,526 a year, $4,211 against $6,737.
- Building insurance favours Barren Grounds by $350 a year, $1,800 against $2,150.
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 medium in Jamberoo against low in Barren Grounds, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Barren Grounds cumulative | Jamberoo cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,044 | $9,868 | $2,176 |
| Year 3 | $37,227 | $30,501 | $6,726 |
| Year 5 | $63,943 | $52,391 | $11,552 |
| Year 10 | $138,071 | $113,126 | $24,945 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barren Grounds or Jamberoo cheaper to live in?
Jamberoo is cheaper to run by car at $9,868 per year versus $12,044 for Barren Grounds, a difference of $2,176 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Barren Grounds and Jamberoo?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Barren Grounds (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Jamberoo (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Barren Grounds and $1,548 in Jamberoo. 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 Barren Grounds and Jamberoo?
Barren Grounds is $6,737 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Jamberoo is $4,211 a year to drive to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Barren Grounds and $2,400 from Jamberoo.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Barren Grounds and Jamberoo?
At 3% annual cost growth, Barren Grounds costs a cumulative $138,071 and Jamberoo costs $113,126 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $24,945 in favour of Jamberoo. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Barren Grounds and Jamberoo suits you better?
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Sources: Kiama rates (OLG and Kiama 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.