Cleveland vs Huntley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cleveland and Huntley are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 81.3 km and 81.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $24 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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Huntley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cleveland | Huntley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,551 | $3,577 | -$26 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,800 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,768 | $8,744 | +$24 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,617 | $7,567 | +$50 |
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 | Cleveland | Huntley | 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, Cleveland vs Huntley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cleveland and Huntley cost within $24 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $275, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $50 per year. Cleveland carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,617 and $7,567 a year, so the $24 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cleveland by $26 a year, $3,551 against $3,577.
- Building insurance favours Huntley by $50 a year, $1,800 against $1,850.
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 medium in Cleveland against low in Huntley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Huntley against medium in Cleveland, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cleveland cumulative | Huntley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,768 | $8,744 | $24 |
| Year 3 | $27,101 | $27,027 | $74 |
| Year 5 | $46,551 | $46,423 | $128 |
| Year 10 | $100,515 | $100,240 | $275 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleveland or Huntley cheaper to live in?
Huntley is cheaper to run by car at $8,744 per year versus $8,768 for Cleveland, a difference of $24 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cleveland and Huntley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Cleveland (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Huntley (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cleveland and $1,548 in Huntley. 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 Cleveland and Huntley?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,551 from Cleveland and $3,577 from Huntley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cleveland and $2,400 from Huntley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cleveland and Huntley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cleveland costs a cumulative $100,515 and Huntley costs $100,240 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $275 in favour of Huntley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cleveland and Huntley suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong 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.