Bawley Point vs Termeil, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bawley Point and Termeil are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Termeil runs $400 a year cheaper than Bawley Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Termeil
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bawley Point | Termeil | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,850 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,297 | $22,897 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,297 | $22,897 | +$400 |
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 | Bawley Point | Termeil | 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, Bawley Point vs Termeil (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bawley Point and Termeil differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Bawley Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $23,297 from Bawley Point versus $22,897 from Termeil.
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 Termeil by $400 a year, $1,850 against $2,250.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Bawley Point against medium in Termeil, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bawley Point cumulative | Termeil cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,297 | $22,897 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $72,009 | $70,772 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $123,687 | $121,563 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $267,074 | $262,488 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bawley Point or Termeil cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bawley Point runs $23,297 a year by car and Termeil $22,897, but most of the $400 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bawley Point and Termeil?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Bawley Point (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Termeil (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bawley Point and $1,300 in Termeil. 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 Bawley Point and Termeil?
Bawley Point 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. Termeil 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bawley Point and Termeil?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bawley Point costs a cumulative $267,074 and Termeil costs $262,488 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Termeil. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bawley Point and Termeil suits you better?
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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.