Bundewallah vs Woodhill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bundewallah and Woodhill are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 41.9 km and 38.5 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $244 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 the gap between these two is about $2,800, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Woodhill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bundewallah | Woodhill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,973 | $6,979 | -$6 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,973 | $6,979 | -$6 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,300 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,370 | $11,126 | +$244 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,370 | $11,126 | +$244 |
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 | Bundewallah | Woodhill | 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, Bundewallah vs Woodhill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bundewallah and Woodhill differ by $244 a year by car, but $250 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 $6, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $244 per year, $11,370 from Bundewallah versus $11,126 from Woodhill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bundewallah by $6 a year, $6,973 against $6,979.
- Building insurance favours Woodhill by $250 a year, $1,300 against $1,550.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Bundewallah against medium in Woodhill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bundewallah cumulative | Woodhill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,370 | $11,126 | $244 |
| Year 3 | $35,144 | $34,389 | $755 |
| Year 5 | $60,365 | $59,069 | $1,296 |
| Year 10 | $130,344 | $127,547 | $2,797 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bundewallah or Woodhill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bundewallah runs $11,370 a year by car and Woodhill $11,126, but most of the $244 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $6. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bundewallah and Woodhill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Bundewallah (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Woodhill (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bundewallah and $1,300 in Woodhill. 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 Bundewallah and Woodhill?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,973 from Bundewallah and $6,979 from Woodhill to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bundewallah and Woodhill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bundewallah costs a cumulative $130,344 and Woodhill costs $127,547 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,797 in favour of Woodhill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bundewallah and Woodhill suits you better?
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Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven 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.