Carrington Falls vs Upper Kangaroo Valley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carrington Falls (Kiama rates (OLG) and Upper Kangaroo Valley (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Wollongong CBD (33.8 km and 33.9 km).
Upper Kangaroo Valley runs $362 a year cheaper than Carrington Falls, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,150.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,200, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Carrington Falls
Upper Kangaroo Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carrington Falls | Upper Kangaroo Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $2,140 | -$181 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,548 | $1,300 | +$248 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,821 | $6,826 | -$5 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,178 | $11,816 | +$362 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,757 | $7,390 | +$367 |
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 | Carrington Falls | Upper Kangaroo Valley | 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, Carrington Falls vs Upper Kangaroo Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carrington Falls and Upper Kangaroo Valley differ by $362 a year by car, but $300 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 $62, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $367 per year, $7,757 from Carrington Falls versus $7,390 from Upper Kangaroo Valley.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Carrington Falls by $181 a year, $1,959 against $2,140.
- Water and sewerage favours Upper Kangaroo Valley by $248 a year, $1,300 against $1,548.
- Driving commute favours Carrington Falls by $5 a year, $6,821 against $6,826.
- Building insurance favours Upper Kangaroo Valley by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carrington Falls cumulative | Upper Kangaroo Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,178 | $11,816 | $362 |
| Year 3 | $37,641 | $36,522 | $1,119 |
| Year 5 | $64,655 | $62,733 | $1,922 |
| Year 10 | $139,607 | $135,457 | $4,150 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carrington Falls or Upper Kangaroo Valley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carrington Falls runs $12,178 a year by car and Upper Kangaroo Valley $11,816, but most of the $362 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $62. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carrington Falls and Upper Kangaroo Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Carrington Falls (Kiama rates (OLG) and $2,140 in Upper Kangaroo Valley (Wingecarribee rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carrington Falls and $1,300 in Upper Kangaroo Valley. 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 Carrington Falls and Upper Kangaroo Valley?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,821 from Carrington Falls and $6,826 from Upper Kangaroo Valley to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Carrington Falls and $2,400 from Upper Kangaroo Valley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carrington Falls and Upper Kangaroo Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carrington Falls costs a cumulative $139,607 and Upper Kangaroo Valley costs $135,457 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,150 in favour of Upper Kangaroo Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carrington Falls and Upper Kangaroo Valley suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Kiama 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.