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 $439 a year cheaper than Bombo, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,032.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,000, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Jerrara
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bombo | Jerrara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,058 | $4,219 | -$161 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $1,500 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,665 | $9,226 | +$439 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,007 | $7,407 | +$600 |
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 | 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
Bombo and Jerrara differ by $439 a year by car, but $600 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 $161, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Bombo carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $8,007 from Bombo versus $7,407 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 $600 a year, $1,500 against $2,100.
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 | $9,665 | $9,226 | $439 |
| Year 3 | $29,874 | $28,517 | $1,357 |
| Year 5 | $51,313 | $48,982 | $2,331 |
| Year 10 | $110,798 | $105,766 | $5,032 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bombo or Jerrara cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bombo runs $9,665 a year by car and Jerrara $9,226, but most of the $439 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $161. 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 $110,798 and Jerrara costs $105,766 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,032 in favour of Jerrara. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bombo and Jerrara suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.