Bulli vs Thirroul: 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 Thirroul are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 58.1 km and 56.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bulli runs $506 a year cheaper than Thirroul, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,800.
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 →Bulli
Thirroul
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bulli | Thirroul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,558 | $5,814 | -$256 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,000 | $3,250 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,925 | $12,431 | -$506 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,767 | $9,017 | -$250 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bulli | Thirroul | 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 Thirroul (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bulli costs $506 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,800 in favour of Bulli.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $256 per year. Bulli is 58.1 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,767 from Bulli versus $9,017 from Thirroul.
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 Bulli by $256 a year, $5,558 against $5,814.
- Building insurance favours Bulli by $250 a year, $3,000 against $3,250.
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 Thirroul against medium in Bulli, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Bulli against medium in Thirroul, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9 in Thirroul against 7.9 in Bulli, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bulli cumulative | Thirroul cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,925 | $12,431 | $506 |
| Year 3 | $36,859 | $38,423 | $1,564 |
| Year 5 | $63,311 | $65,998 | $2,687 |
| Year 10 | $136,707 | $142,507 | $5,800 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulli or Thirroul cheaper to live in?
Bulli is cheaper to run by car at $11,925 per year versus $12,431 for Thirroul, a difference of $506 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bulli and Thirroul?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Bulli (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Thirroul (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bulli and $1,548 in Thirroul. 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 Thirroul?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,558 from Bulli and $5,814 from Thirroul to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bulli and $2,400 from Thirroul.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bulli and Thirroul?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bulli costs a cumulative $136,707 and Thirroul costs $142,507 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,800 in favour of Bulli. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bulli and Thirroul 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.