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 $300 a year cheaper than Berringer Lake, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Berringer Lake
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bendalong | Berringer Lake | 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 | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,597 | $22,897 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,597 | $22,897 | -$300 |
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 | 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 and Berringer Lake differ by $300 a year by car, but $300 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 $300 per year. Berringer Lake carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $22,597 from Bendalong versus $22,897 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 $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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 | $22,597 | $22,897 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $69,845 | $70,772 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $119,971 | $121,563 | $1,592 |
| Year 10 | $259,049 | $262,488 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bendalong or Berringer Lake cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bendalong runs $22,597 a year by car and Berringer Lake $22,897, but most of the $300 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 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bendalong and Berringer Lake?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bendalong costs a cumulative $259,049 and Berringer Lake costs $262,488 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Bendalong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bendalong and Berringer Lake 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.