Berkeley vs Brownsville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Berkeley and Brownsville are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 77.1 km and 77.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $204 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,300, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Brownsville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Berkeley | Brownsville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,368 | $3,372 | -$4 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,300 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,835 | $9,039 | -$204 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,867 | $8,067 | -$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 | Berkeley | Brownsville | 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, Berkeley vs Brownsville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Berkeley and Brownsville differ by $204 a year by car, but $200 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 $4, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Brownsville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,867 from Berkeley versus $8,067 from Brownsville.
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 Berkeley by $4 a year, $3,368 against $3,372.
- Building insurance favours Berkeley by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
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 Brownsville against low in Berkeley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.3 in Brownsville against 2.7 in Berkeley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Berkeley cumulative | Brownsville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,835 | $9,039 | $204 |
| Year 3 | $27,308 | $27,939 | $631 |
| Year 5 | $46,906 | $47,989 | $1,083 |
| Year 10 | $101,283 | $103,622 | $2,339 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berkeley or Brownsville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Berkeley runs $8,835 a year by car and Brownsville $9,039, but most of the $204 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $4. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Berkeley and Brownsville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Berkeley (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Brownsville (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Berkeley and $1,548 in Brownsville. 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 Berkeley and Brownsville?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,368 from Berkeley and $3,372 from Brownsville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Berkeley and $2,400 from Brownsville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Berkeley and Brownsville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Berkeley costs a cumulative $101,283 and Brownsville costs $103,622 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,339 in favour of Berkeley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Berkeley and Brownsville 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.
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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.