Cambewarra Village vs Meroo Meadow, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cambewarra Village runs $900 a year cheaper than Meroo Meadow, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,317.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,300, about $20 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Meroo Meadow
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cambewarra Village | Meroo Meadow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,100 | $2,000 | -$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,147 | $23,047 | -$900 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,147 | $23,047 | -$900 |
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 | Cambewarra Village | Meroo Meadow | 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, Cambewarra Village vs Meroo Meadow (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow differ by $900 a year by car, but $900 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. Meroo Meadow carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $22,147 from Cambewarra Village versus $23,047 from Meroo Meadow.
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 is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Cambewarra Village by $900 a year, $1,100 against $2,000.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Meroo Meadow against low in Cambewarra Village, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Meroo Meadow against low in Cambewarra Village, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Cambewarra Village against 3.7 in Meroo Meadow, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cambewarra Village cumulative | Meroo Meadow cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,147 | $23,047 | $900 |
| Year 3 | $68,454 | $71,236 | $2,782 |
| Year 5 | $117,581 | $122,360 | $4,779 |
| Year 10 | $253,891 | $264,208 | $10,317 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cambewarra Village or Meroo Meadow cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cambewarra Village runs $22,147 a year by car and Meroo Meadow $23,047, but most of the $900 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Cambewarra Village (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Meroo Meadow (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cambewarra Village and $1,300 in Meroo Meadow. 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 Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow?
Cambewarra Village carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Meroo Meadow carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cambewarra Village costs a cumulative $253,891 and Meroo Meadow costs $264,208 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,317 in favour of Cambewarra Village. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cambewarra Village and Meroo Meadow 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.