Budderoo vs Carrington Falls, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Budderoo and Carrington Falls are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 32.9 km and 33.8 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $102 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years, Budderoo costs about $1,200 less to run than Carrington Falls. That's about $2 a week.
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Carrington Falls
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Budderoo | Carrington Falls | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,769 | $6,821 | -$52 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $1,850 | -$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,076 | $12,178 | -$102 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,707 | $7,757 | -$50 |
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 | Budderoo | Carrington Falls | 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, Budderoo vs Carrington Falls (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Budderoo and Carrington Falls cost within $102 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $1,169, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $52 per year. Carrington Falls is 33.8 km from Wollongong CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,707 and $7,757 a year, so the $102 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Budderoo by $52 a year, $6,769 against $6,821.
- Building insurance favours Budderoo by $50 a year, $1,800 against $1,850.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Budderoo cumulative | Carrington Falls cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,076 | $12,178 | $102 |
| Year 3 | $37,326 | $37,641 | $315 |
| Year 5 | $64,113 | $64,655 | $542 |
| Year 10 | $138,438 | $139,607 | $1,169 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Budderoo or Carrington Falls cheaper to live in?
Budderoo is cheaper to run by car at $12,076 per year versus $12,178 for Carrington Falls, a difference of $102 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Budderoo and Carrington Falls?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Budderoo (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Carrington Falls (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Budderoo and $1,548 in Carrington Falls. 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 Budderoo and Carrington Falls?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,769 from Budderoo and $6,821 from Carrington Falls to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Budderoo and $2,400 from Carrington Falls.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Budderoo and Carrington Falls?
At 3% annual cost growth, Budderoo costs a cumulative $138,438 and Carrington Falls costs $139,607 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,169 in favour of Budderoo. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Budderoo and Carrington Falls 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.