Beaumont vs Cambewarra, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Beaumont and Cambewarra are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Beaumont runs $11,364 a year cheaper than Cambewarra, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $130,275.
Over 10 years, Beaumont costs about $130,300 less to run than Cambewarra. That's about $251 a week.
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 →Beaumont
Cambewarra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beaumont | Cambewarra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,586 | $18,200 | -$11,614 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,586 | $18,200 | -$11,614 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,300 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,983 | $22,347 | -$11,364 |
| Total (public transport) | $10,983 | $22,347 | -$11,364 |
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 | Beaumont | Cambewarra | 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, Beaumont vs Cambewarra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beaumont costs $11,364 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $130,275 in favour of Beaumont.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,614 per year. Cambewarra is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,364 per year, $10,983 from Beaumont versus $22,347 from Cambewarra.
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 Beaumont by $11,614 a year, $6,586 against $18,200.
- Building insurance favours Cambewarra 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 Beaumont against medium in Cambewarra, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Beaumont cumulative | Cambewarra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,983 | $22,347 | $11,364 |
| Year 3 | $33,947 | $69,072 | $35,125 |
| Year 5 | $58,310 | $118,643 | $60,333 |
| Year 10 | $125,908 | $256,183 | $130,275 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beaumont or Cambewarra cheaper to live in?
Beaumont is cheaper to run by car at $10,983 per year versus $22,347 for Cambewarra, a difference of $11,364 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Beaumont and Cambewarra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Beaumont (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Cambewarra (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Beaumont and $1,300 in Cambewarra. 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 Beaumont and Cambewarra?
Beaumont is $6,586 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Cambewarra 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 Beaumont and Cambewarra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beaumont costs a cumulative $125,908 and Cambewarra costs $256,183 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $130,275 in favour of Beaumont. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beaumont and Cambewarra 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.