Bellambi vs Towradgi, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bellambi and Towradgi are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 61.7 km and 63.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Towradgi runs $576 a year cheaper than Bellambi, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,604.
Over 10 years, Towradgi costs about $6,600 less to run than Bellambi. That's about $13 a week.
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Towradgi
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bellambi | Towradgi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,932 | $4,556 | +$376 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,850 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,349 | $9,773 | +$576 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,817 | $7,617 | +$200 |
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 | Bellambi | Towradgi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Bellambi vs Towradgi (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Towradgi costs $576 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,604 in favour of Towradgi.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $376 per year. Towradgi is 63.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,817 from Bellambi versus $7,617 from Towradgi.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Towradgi by $376 a year, $4,556 against $4,932.
- Building insurance favours Towradgi by $200 a year, $1,850 against $2,050.
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 medium in Bellambi against low in Towradgi, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Towradgi against 1.2 in Bellambi, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bellambi cumulative | Towradgi cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,349 | $9,773 | $576 |
| Year 3 | $31,988 | $30,207 | $1,781 |
| Year 5 | $54,944 | $51,886 | $3,058 |
| Year 10 | $118,640 | $112,036 | $6,604 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bellambi or Towradgi cheaper to live in?
Towradgi is cheaper to run by car at $9,773 per year versus $10,349 for Bellambi, a difference of $576 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bellambi and Towradgi?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Bellambi (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Towradgi (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bellambi and $1,548 in Towradgi. 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 Bellambi and Towradgi?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,932 from Bellambi and $4,556 from Towradgi to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bellambi and $2,400 from Towradgi.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bellambi and Towradgi?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bellambi costs a cumulative $118,640 and Towradgi costs $112,036 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,604 in favour of Towradgi. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bellambi and Towradgi suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.