Clifton vs Coalcliff, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clifton and Coalcliff are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 48.5 km and 47.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Clifton runs $383 a year cheaper than Coalcliff, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,390.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,400, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Coalcliff
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clifton | Coalcliff | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,673 | $6,756 | -$83 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,650 | $1,950 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,690 | $12,073 | -$383 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,417 | $7,717 | -$300 |
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 | Clifton | Coalcliff | 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, Clifton vs Coalcliff (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clifton and Coalcliff differ by $383 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 $83, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Coalcliff carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,417 from Clifton versus $7,717 from Coalcliff.
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 Clifton by $83 a year, $6,673 against $6,756.
- Building insurance favours Clifton by $300 a year, $1,650 against $1,950.
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 Coalcliff against low in Clifton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clifton cumulative | Coalcliff cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,690 | $12,073 | $383 |
| Year 3 | $36,133 | $37,316 | $1,183 |
| Year 5 | $62,064 | $64,097 | $2,033 |
| Year 10 | $134,013 | $138,403 | $4,390 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton or Coalcliff cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clifton runs $11,690 a year by car and Coalcliff $12,073, but most of the $383 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $83. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clifton and Coalcliff?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Clifton (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Coalcliff (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clifton and $1,548 in Coalcliff. 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 Clifton and Coalcliff?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,673 from Clifton and $6,756 from Coalcliff to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clifton and $2,400 from Coalcliff.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clifton and Coalcliff?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clifton costs a cumulative $134,013 and Coalcliff costs $138,403 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,390 in favour of Clifton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clifton and Coalcliff 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.