Calderwood vs Tullimbar, 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 and Tullimbar are both Shellharbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 87.4 km and 89.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tullimbar runs $354 a year cheaper than Calderwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,058.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,100, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tullimbar
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Calderwood | Tullimbar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,818 | $3,914 | -$96 |
| 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 | $9,177 | +$354 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,113 | $7,663 | +$450 |
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 | Tullimbar | 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 Tullimbar (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Calderwood and Tullimbar differ by $354 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 $96, 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 $450 per year, $8,113 from Calderwood versus $7,663 from Tullimbar.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,865 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Calderwood by $96 a year, $3,818 against $3,914.
- Building insurance favours Tullimbar by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 Calderwood against medium in Tullimbar, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Calderwood cumulative | Tullimbar cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,531 | $9,177 | $354 |
| Year 3 | $29,459 | $28,365 | $1,094 |
| Year 5 | $50,601 | $48,722 | $1,879 |
| Year 10 | $109,262 | $105,204 | $4,058 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calderwood or Tullimbar cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Calderwood runs $9,531 a year by car and Tullimbar $9,177, but most of the $354 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $96. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Calderwood and Tullimbar?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Calderwood (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Tullimbar (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Calderwood and $1,548 in Tullimbar. 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 Tullimbar?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,818 from Calderwood and $3,914 from Tullimbar to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Calderwood and $2,400 from Tullimbar.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Calderwood and Tullimbar?
At 3% annual cost growth, Calderwood costs a cumulative $109,262 and Tullimbar costs $105,204 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,058 in favour of Tullimbar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Calderwood and Tullimbar suits you better?
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Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.