Coomba Bay vs Wallingat: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Coomba Bay and Wallingat are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wallingat runs $650 a year cheaper than Coomba Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,452.
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 →Coomba Bay
Wallingat
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Coomba Bay | Wallingat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,500 | $2,850 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,609 | $23,959 | +$650 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,809 | $8,159 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Coomba Bay | Wallingat | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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 — Coomba Bay vs Wallingat (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Wallingat costs $650 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,452 in favour of Wallingat.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Coomba Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,809 from Coomba Bay versus $8,159 from Wallingat.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Wallingat by $650 a year, $2,850 against $3,500.
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 high in Coomba Bay against medium in Wallingat, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.9 in Wallingat against 4.3 in Coomba Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Coomba Bay cumulative | Wallingat cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,609 | $23,959 | $650 |
| Year 3 | $76,064 | $74,055 | $2,009 |
| Year 5 | $130,653 | $127,202 | $3,451 |
| Year 10 | $282,115 | $274,663 | $7,452 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coomba Bay or Wallingat cheaper to live in?
Wallingat is cheaper to run by car at $23,959 per year versus $24,609 for Coomba Bay, a difference of $650 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Coomba Bay and Wallingat?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Coomba Bay (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Wallingat (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Coomba Bay and $1,300 in Wallingat. 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 Coomba Bay and Wallingat?
Coomba Bay 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. Wallingat 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 Coomba Bay and $2,400 from Wallingat.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Coomba Bay and Wallingat?
At 3% annual cost growth, Coomba Bay costs a cumulative $282,115 and Wallingat costs $274,663 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,452 in favour of Wallingat. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Coomba Bay and Wallingat 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: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.