Berry vs Broughton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Berry and Broughton are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.7 km and 40 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Broughton runs $340 a year cheaper than Berry, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,898.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,900, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Broughton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Berry | Broughton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,929 | $6,989 | -$60 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,929 | $6,989 | -$60 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,600 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,776 | $11,436 | +$340 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,776 | $11,436 | +$340 |
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 | Berry | Broughton | 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, Berry vs Broughton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Berry and Broughton differ by $340 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 $60, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Berry carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $340 per year, $11,776 from Berry versus $11,436 from Broughton.
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 favours Berry by $60 a year, $6,929 against $6,989.
- Building insurance favours Broughton by $400 a year, $1,600 against $2,000.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Berry against medium in Broughton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Berry cumulative | Broughton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,776 | $11,436 | $340 |
| Year 3 | $36,398 | $35,348 | $1,050 |
| Year 5 | $62,520 | $60,715 | $1,805 |
| Year 10 | $134,999 | $131,101 | $3,898 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berry or Broughton cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Berry runs $11,776 a year by car and Broughton $11,436, but most of the $340 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $60. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Berry and Broughton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Berry (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Broughton (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Berry and $1,300 in Broughton. 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 Berry and Broughton?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,929 from Berry and $6,989 from Broughton to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Berry and Broughton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Berry costs a cumulative $134,999 and Broughton costs $131,101 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,898 in favour of Broughton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Berry and Broughton 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.