Beaumont vs Red Rocks: 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 Red Rocks are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Beaumont runs $11,614 a year cheaper than Red Rocks, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $133,142.
Over 10 years, Beaumont costs about $133,100 less to run than Red Rocks — the same as paying $133,100 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Red Rocks
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Beaumont | Red Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,586 | $18,200 | -$11,614 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,833 | $23,447 | -$11,614 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,647 | $7,647 | - |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Beaumont | Red Rocks | 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 Red Rocks (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beaumont costs $11,614 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $133,142 in favour of Beaumont.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,614 per year. Red Rocks 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 two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,647 and $7,647 a year, so the $11,614 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 is identical at $2,400 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 7.8 in Red Rocks against 6.7 in Beaumont, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Beaumont cumulative | Red Rocks cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,833 | $23,447 | $11,614 |
| Year 3 | $36,575 | $72,472 | $35,897 |
| Year 5 | $62,823 | $124,483 | $61,660 |
| Year 10 | $135,652 | $268,794 | $133,142 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beaumont or Red Rocks cheaper to live in?
Beaumont is cheaper to run by car at $11,833 per year versus $23,447 for Red Rocks, a difference of $11,614 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Beaumont and Red Rocks?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Beaumont (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Red Rocks (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Beaumont and $1,300 in Red Rocks. 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 Red Rocks?
Beaumont is $6,586 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Red Rocks 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Beaumont and $2,400 from Red Rocks.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Beaumont and Red Rocks?
At 3% annual cost growth, Beaumont costs a cumulative $135,652 and Red Rocks costs $268,794 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $133,142 in favour of Beaumont. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Beaumont and Red Rocks is best to actually live in?
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.