Colongra vs Lake Munmorah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Colongra and Lake Munmorah are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 80.4 km and 82.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $176 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 $2,000, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lake Munmorah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Colongra | Lake Munmorah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,512 | $3,586 | -$74 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $2,000 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,516 | $8,340 | +$176 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,404 | $7,154 | +$250 |
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 | Colongra | Lake Munmorah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Colongra vs Lake Munmorah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Colongra and Lake Munmorah differ by $176 a year by car, but $250 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 $74, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Colongra carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,404 from Colongra versus $7,154 from Lake Munmorah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Colongra by $74 a year, $3,512 against $3,586.
- Building insurance favours Lake Munmorah by $250 a year, $2,000 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Colongra against medium in Lake Munmorah, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Colongra cumulative | Lake Munmorah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,516 | $8,340 | $176 |
| Year 3 | $26,322 | $25,778 | $544 |
| Year 5 | $45,213 | $44,278 | $935 |
| Year 10 | $97,626 | $95,609 | $2,017 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colongra or Lake Munmorah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Colongra runs $8,516 a year by car and Lake Munmorah $8,340, but most of the $176 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $74. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Colongra and Lake Munmorah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Colongra (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Lake Munmorah (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Colongra and $1,300 in Lake Munmorah. 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 Colongra and Lake Munmorah?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,512 from Colongra and $3,586 from Lake Munmorah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Colongra and $2,400 from Lake Munmorah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Colongra and Lake Munmorah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Colongra costs a cumulative $97,626 and Lake Munmorah costs $95,609 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,017 in favour of Lake Munmorah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Colongra and Lake Munmorah suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.