Bendalong vs Berringer Lake: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bendalong and Berringer Lake are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bendalong runs $450 a year cheaper than Berringer Lake, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,158.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bendalong
Berringer Lake
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bendalong | Berringer Lake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,850 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,447 | $23,897 | -$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,647 | $8,097 | -$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bendalong | Berringer Lake | 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 — Bendalong vs Berringer Lake (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bendalong costs $450 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,158 in favour of Bendalong.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Berringer Lake carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,647 from Bendalong versus $8,097 from Berringer Lake.
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 Bendalong by $450 a year, $2,400 against $2,850.
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 medium in Berringer Lake against low in Bendalong, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.6 in Berringer Lake against 4.9 in Bendalong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bendalong cumulative | Berringer Lake cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,447 | $23,897 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $72,472 | $73,863 | $1,391 |
| Year 5 | $124,483 | $126,872 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $268,794 | $273,952 | $5,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bendalong or Berringer Lake cheaper to live in?
Bendalong is cheaper to run by car at $23,447 per year versus $23,897 for Berringer Lake, a difference of $450 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bendalong and Berringer Lake?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Bendalong (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Berringer Lake (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bendalong and $1,300 in Berringer Lake. 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 Bendalong and Berringer Lake?
Bendalong 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. Berringer Lake 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 Bendalong and $2,400 from Berringer Lake.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bendalong and Berringer Lake?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bendalong costs a cumulative $268,794 and Berringer Lake costs $273,952 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,158 in favour of Bendalong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bendalong and Berringer Lake 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.
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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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.