Coniston vs Wollongong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Coniston and Wollongong are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 70.1 km and 67.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Coniston runs $526 a year cheaper than Wollongong, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,030.
Over 10 years, Coniston costs about $6,000 less to run than Wollongong. That's about $12 a week.
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Wollongong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Coniston | Wollongong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,062 | $3,588 | -$526 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,279 | $8,805 | -$526 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,617 | $7,617 | - |
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 | Coniston | Wollongong | 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, Coniston vs Wollongong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Coniston costs $526 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,030 in favour of Coniston.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $526 per year. Coniston is 70.1 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,617 and $7,617 a year, so the $526 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Coniston by $526 a year, $3,062 against $3,588.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.1 in Wollongong against 5.8 in Coniston, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Coniston cumulative | Wollongong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,279 | $8,805 | $526 |
| Year 3 | $25,590 | $27,215 | $1,625 |
| Year 5 | $43,954 | $46,747 | $2,793 |
| Year 10 | $94,909 | $100,939 | $6,030 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coniston or Wollongong cheaper to live in?
Coniston is cheaper to run by car at $8,279 per year versus $8,805 for Wollongong, a difference of $526 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Coniston and Wollongong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Coniston (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Wollongong (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Coniston and $1,548 in Wollongong. 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 Coniston and Wollongong?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,062 from Coniston and $3,588 from Wollongong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Coniston and $2,400 from Wollongong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Coniston and Wollongong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Coniston costs a cumulative $94,909 and Wollongong costs $100,939 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,030 in favour of Coniston. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Coniston and Wollongong 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.