Clifton vs Scarborough, 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 Scarborough are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 48.5 km and 49.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $187 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 the gap between these two is about $2,100, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Scarborough
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clifton | Scarborough | 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 | $6,560 | +$113 |
| 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 | $11,877 | -$187 |
| 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 | Scarborough | 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 Scarborough (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clifton and Scarborough differ by $187 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 $113, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Scarborough 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 Scarborough.
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 Scarborough by $113 a year, $6,560 against $6,673.
- 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 Scarborough against low in Clifton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clifton cumulative | Scarborough cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,690 | $11,877 | $187 |
| Year 3 | $36,133 | $36,711 | $578 |
| Year 5 | $62,064 | $63,057 | $993 |
| Year 10 | $134,013 | $136,156 | $2,143 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton or Scarborough cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clifton runs $11,690 a year by car and Scarborough $11,877, but most of the $187 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $113. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clifton and Scarborough?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Clifton (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Scarborough (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clifton and $1,548 in Scarborough. 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 Scarborough?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,673 from Clifton and $6,560 from Scarborough to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clifton and $2,400 from Scarborough.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clifton and Scarborough?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clifton costs a cumulative $134,013 and Scarborough costs $136,156 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,143 in favour of Clifton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clifton and Scarborough 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.