Coledale vs Thirroul, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Coledale and Thirroul are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 52.6 km and 56.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $282 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 $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Thirroul
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Coledale | Thirroul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,296 | $5,814 | +$482 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $2,150 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,613 | $11,331 | +$282 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,717 | $7,917 | -$200 |
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 | Coledale | Thirroul | 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, Coledale vs Thirroul (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Coledale and Thirroul differ by $282 a year by car, but $200 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 $482, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $482 per year. Thirroul is 56.4 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,717 from Coledale versus $7,917 from Thirroul.
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 Thirroul by $482 a year, $5,814 against $6,296.
- Building insurance favours Coledale by $200 a year, $1,950 against $2,150.
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 high in Thirroul against medium in Coledale, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Coledale against medium in Thirroul, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Coledale cumulative | Thirroul cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,613 | $11,331 | $282 |
| Year 3 | $35,895 | $35,023 | $872 |
| Year 5 | $61,655 | $60,158 | $1,497 |
| Year 10 | $133,130 | $129,897 | $3,233 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coledale or Thirroul cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Coledale runs $11,613 a year by car and Thirroul $11,331, but most of the $282 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $482. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Coledale and Thirroul?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Coledale (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Thirroul (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Coledale and $1,548 in Thirroul. 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 Coledale and Thirroul?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,296 from Coledale and $5,814 from Thirroul to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Coledale and $2,400 from Thirroul.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Coledale and Thirroul?
At 3% annual cost growth, Coledale costs a cumulative $133,130 and Thirroul costs $129,897 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,233 in favour of Thirroul. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Coledale and Thirroul 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.