Berringer Lake vs Lake Conjola, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Berringer Lake runs $400 a year cheaper than Lake Conjola, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lake Conjola
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Berringer Lake | Lake Conjola | 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 | $1,850 | $2,250 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,897 | $23,297 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,897 | $23,297 | -$400 |
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 | Berringer Lake | Lake Conjola | 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, Berringer Lake vs Lake Conjola (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola differ by $400 a year by car, but $400 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 $400 per year. Lake Conjola carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $22,897 from Berringer Lake versus $23,297 from Lake Conjola.
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 Berringer Lake by $400 a year, $1,850 against $2,250.
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 high in Lake Conjola against medium in Berringer Lake, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Berringer Lake cumulative | Lake Conjola cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,897 | $23,297 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,772 | $72,009 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $121,563 | $123,687 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $262,488 | $267,074 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berringer Lake or Lake Conjola cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Berringer Lake runs $22,897 a year by car and Lake Conjola $23,297, but most of the $400 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 Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Berringer Lake (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Lake Conjola (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Berringer Lake and $1,300 in Lake Conjola. 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 Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola?
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. Lake Conjola 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 Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola?
At 3% annual cost growth, Berringer Lake costs a cumulative $262,488 and Lake Conjola costs $267,074 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Berringer Lake. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Berringer Lake and Lake Conjola 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.