Barrengarry vs Upper Kangaroo River, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43 km and 40 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $290 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 $3,300, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Barrengarry
Upper Kangaroo River
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Barrengarry | Upper Kangaroo River | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,949 | $6,989 | -$40 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,949 | $6,989 | -$40 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,300 | $1,550 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,096 | $11,386 | -$290 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,096 | $11,386 | -$290 |
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 | Barrengarry | Upper Kangaroo River | 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, Barrengarry vs Upper Kangaroo River (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River differ by $290 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 $40, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $290 per year, $11,096 from Barrengarry versus $11,386 from Upper Kangaroo River.
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 favours Barrengarry by $40 a year, $6,949 against $6,989.
- Building insurance favours Barrengarry 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 high in Upper Kangaroo River against medium in Barrengarry, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Barrengarry cumulative | Upper Kangaroo River cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,096 | $11,386 | $290 |
| Year 3 | $34,297 | $35,193 | $896 |
| Year 5 | $58,910 | $60,450 | $1,540 |
| Year 10 | $127,203 | $130,528 | $3,325 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barrengarry or Upper Kangaroo River cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Barrengarry runs $11,096 a year by car and Upper Kangaroo River $11,386, but most of the $290 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $40. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Barrengarry (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Upper Kangaroo River (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Barrengarry and $1,300 in Upper Kangaroo River. 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 Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,949 from Barrengarry and $6,989 from Upper Kangaroo River to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River?
At 3% annual cost growth, Barrengarry costs a cumulative $127,203 and Upper Kangaroo River costs $130,528 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,325 in favour of Barrengarry. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Barrengarry and Upper Kangaroo River suits you better?
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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.