Comberton vs Falls Creek: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Comberton and Falls Creek are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Falls Creek runs $450 a year cheaper than Comberton, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,158.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Comberton
Falls Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Comberton | Falls Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $2,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,897 | $23,447 | +$450 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,097 | $7,647 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Comberton | Falls Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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 — Comberton vs Falls Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Falls Creek costs $450 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,158 in favour of Falls Creek.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Comberton carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $8,097 from Comberton versus $7,647 from Falls Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Falls Creek by $450 a year, $2,400 against $2,850.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Comberton against low in Falls Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.1 in Comberton against 4 in Falls Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Comberton cumulative | Falls Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,897 | $23,447 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $73,863 | $72,472 | $1,391 |
| Year 5 | $126,872 | $124,483 | $2,389 |
| Year 10 | $273,952 | $268,794 | $5,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Comberton or Falls Creek cheaper to live in?
Falls Creek is cheaper to run by car at $23,447 per year versus $23,897 for Comberton, a difference of $450 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Comberton and Falls Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Comberton (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Falls Creek (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Comberton and $1,300 in Falls Creek. 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 Comberton and Falls Creek?
Comberton carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Falls Creek carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from Comberton and $2,400 from Falls Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Comberton and Falls Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Comberton costs a cumulative $273,952 and Falls Creek costs $268,794 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,158 in favour of Falls Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Comberton and Falls Creek is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.