Burradoo vs Moss 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
Burradoo and Moss Vale are both Wingecarribee rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 45.9 km and 46.9 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $194 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 $2,200, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Moss Vale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burradoo | Moss Vale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,140 | $2,140 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,837 | $6,781 | +$56 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,300 | $1,550 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,577 | $11,771 | -$194 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,140 | $7,390 | -$250 |
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 | Burradoo | Moss Vale | 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, Burradoo vs Moss Vale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burradoo and Moss Vale differ by $194 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 $56, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,140 from Burradoo versus $7,390 from Moss Vale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,140 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Moss Vale by $56 a year, $6,781 against $6,837.
- Building insurance favours Burradoo 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 medium in Moss Vale against low in Burradoo, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.3 in Burradoo against 5.6 in Moss Vale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burradoo cumulative | Moss Vale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,577 | $11,771 | $194 |
| Year 3 | $35,783 | $36,383 | $600 |
| Year 5 | $61,464 | $62,494 | $1,030 |
| Year 10 | $132,717 | $134,941 | $2,224 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burradoo or Moss Vale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Burradoo runs $11,577 a year by car and Moss Vale $11,771, but most of the $194 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $56. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burradoo and Moss Vale?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,140 in Burradoo (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) and $2,140 in Moss Vale (Wingecarribee rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Burradoo and $1,300 in Moss 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 Burradoo and Moss Vale?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,837 from Burradoo and $6,781 from Moss Vale to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Burradoo and $2,400 from Moss Vale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burradoo and Moss Vale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burradoo costs a cumulative $132,717 and Moss Vale costs $134,941 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,224 in favour of Burradoo. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burradoo and Moss Vale suits you better?
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Sources: Wingecarribee rates (OLG and Wingecarribee 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.