Bulli vs Russell 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
Bulli and Russell Vale are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 58.1 km and 61.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Russell Vale runs $451 a year cheaper than Bulli, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,171.
Over 10 years, Russell Vale costs about $5,200 less to run than Bulli. That's about $10 a week.
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Russell Vale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bulli | Russell Vale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,558 | $5,007 | +$551 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $2,050 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $1,800 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $10,875 | $10,424 | +$451 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,717 | $7,817 | -$100 |
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 | Bulli | Russell 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, Bulli vs Russell Vale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Russell Vale costs $451 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,171 in favour of Russell Vale.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $551 per year. Russell Vale is 61.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,717 and $7,817 a year, so the $451 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Russell Vale by $551 a year, $5,007 against $5,558.
- Building insurance favours Bulli by $100 a year, $1,950 against $2,050.
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 Russell Vale against medium in Bulli, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Bulli against medium in Russell Vale, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bulli cumulative | Russell Vale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,875 | $10,424 | $451 |
| Year 3 | $33,614 | $32,220 | $1,394 |
| Year 5 | $57,737 | $55,342 | $2,395 |
| Year 10 | $124,670 | $119,499 | $5,171 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulli or Russell Vale cheaper to live in?
Russell Vale is cheaper to run by car at $10,424 per year versus $10,875 for Bulli, a difference of $451 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bulli and Russell Vale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Bulli (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Russell Vale (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bulli and $1,548 in Russell 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 Bulli and Russell Vale?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,558 from Bulli and $5,007 from Russell Vale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bulli and $2,400 from Russell Vale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bulli and Russell Vale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bulli costs a cumulative $124,670 and Russell Vale costs $119,499 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,171 in favour of Russell Vale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bulli and Russell Vale suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.