Bombo vs Jerrara: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bombo and Jerrara are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 92.9 km and 96.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Jerrara runs $639 a year cheaper than Bombo, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,325.
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 →Bombo
Jerrara
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bombo | Jerrara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,058 | $4,219 | -$161 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $2,000 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,365 | $9,726 | +$639 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,707 | $7,907 | +$800 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bombo | Jerrara | 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 — Bombo vs Jerrara (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jerrara costs $639 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,325 in favour of Jerrara.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Bombo carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $8,707 from Bombo versus $7,907 from Jerrara.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,959 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bombo by $161 a year, $4,058 against $4,219.
- Building insurance favours Jerrara by $800 a year, $2,000 against $2,800.
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 Bombo against low in Jerrara, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Jerrara against low in Bombo, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bombo cumulative | Jerrara cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,365 | $9,726 | $639 |
| Year 3 | $32,037 | $30,062 | $1,975 |
| Year 5 | $55,029 | $51,637 | $3,392 |
| Year 10 | $118,823 | $111,498 | $7,325 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bombo or Jerrara cheaper to live in?
Jerrara is cheaper to run by car at $9,726 per year versus $10,365 for Bombo, a difference of $639 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bombo and Jerrara?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Bombo (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Jerrara (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bombo and $1,548 in Jerrara. 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 Bombo and Jerrara?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,058 from Bombo and $4,219 from Jerrara to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bombo and $2,400 from Jerrara.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bombo and Jerrara?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bombo costs a cumulative $118,823 and Jerrara costs $111,498 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,325 in favour of Jerrara. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bombo and Jerrara 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: Kiama rates (OLG and Kiama 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.