Broughton Village vs Willow Vale: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Broughton Village and Willow Vale are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 37.5 km and 36.3 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Broughton Village runs $417 a year cheaper than Willow Vale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,781.
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 →Broughton Village
Willow Vale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Broughton Village | Willow Vale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,962 | $6,929 | +$33 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,450 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,469 | $12,886 | -$417 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,907 | $8,357 | -$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Broughton Village | Willow Vale | 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 — Broughton Village vs Willow Vale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Broughton Village costs $417 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,781 in favour of Broughton Village.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Willow Vale carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,907 from Broughton Village versus $8,357 from Willow Vale.
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 Willow Vale by $33 a year, $6,929 against $6,962.
- Building insurance favours Broughton Village by $450 a year, $2,000 against $2,450.
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 medium in Willow Vale against low in Broughton Village, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Broughton Village cumulative | Willow Vale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,469 | $12,886 | $417 |
| Year 3 | $38,540 | $39,829 | $1,289 |
| Year 5 | $66,200 | $68,414 | $2,214 |
| Year 10 | $142,943 | $147,724 | $4,781 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Broughton Village or Willow Vale cheaper to live in?
Broughton Village is cheaper to run by car at $12,469 per year versus $12,886 for Willow Vale, a difference of $417 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Broughton Village and Willow Vale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Broughton Village (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Willow Vale (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Broughton Village and $1,548 in Willow Vale. 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 Broughton Village and Willow Vale?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,962 from Broughton Village and $6,929 from Willow Vale to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Broughton Village and $2,400 from Willow Vale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Broughton Village and Willow Vale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Broughton Village costs a cumulative $142,943 and Willow Vale costs $147,724 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,781 in favour of Broughton Village. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Broughton Village and Willow Vale 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.
Related comparisons
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.