Calderwood vs Marshall Mount, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Calderwood (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and Marshall Mount (Wollongong rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (87.4 km and 86.9 km).
Marshall Mount runs $518 a year cheaper than Calderwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,938.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,900, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Marshall Mount
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Calderwood | Marshall Mount | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,819 | +$46 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,818 | $3,796 | +$22 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,531 | $9,013 | +$518 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,113 | $7,617 | +$496 |
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 | Calderwood | Marshall Mount | 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, Calderwood vs Marshall Mount (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Calderwood and Marshall Mount differ by $518 a year by car, but $450 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 $68, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Calderwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $496 per year, $8,113 from Calderwood versus $7,617 from Marshall Mount.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Marshall Mount by $46 a year, $1,819 against $1,865.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Marshall Mount by $22 a year, $3,796 against $3,818.
- Building insurance favours Marshall Mount by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in Calderwood against medium in Marshall Mount, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Calderwood cumulative | Marshall Mount cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,531 | $9,013 | $518 |
| Year 3 | $29,459 | $27,858 | $1,601 |
| Year 5 | $50,601 | $47,851 | $2,750 |
| Year 10 | $109,262 | $103,324 | $5,938 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calderwood or Marshall Mount cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Calderwood runs $9,531 a year by car and Marshall Mount $9,013, but most of the $518 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $68. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Calderwood and Marshall Mount?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Calderwood (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Marshall Mount (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Calderwood and $1,548 in Marshall Mount. 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 Calderwood and Marshall Mount?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,818 from Calderwood and $3,796 from Marshall Mount to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Calderwood and $2,400 from Marshall Mount.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Calderwood and Marshall Mount?
At 3% annual cost growth, Calderwood costs a cumulative $109,262 and Marshall Mount costs $103,324 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,938 in favour of Marshall Mount. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Calderwood and Marshall Mount suits you better?
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Sources: Shellharbour 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.