Cordeaux Heights vs Mount Kembla, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 73.2 km and 71.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $235 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 $2,700, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Kembla
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cordeaux Heights | Mount Kembla | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,197 | $3,132 | +$65 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,064 | $8,299 | -$235 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,267 | $7,567 | -$300 |
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 | Cordeaux Heights | Mount Kembla | 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, Cordeaux Heights vs Mount Kembla (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla differ by $235 a year by car, but $300 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 $65, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,267 from Cordeaux Heights versus $7,567 from Mount Kembla.
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 Mount Kembla by $65 a year, $3,132 against $3,197.
- Building insurance favours Cordeaux Heights by $300 a year, $1,500 against $1,800.
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 Mount Kembla against medium in Cordeaux Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.3 in Mount Kembla against 5.8 in Cordeaux Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cordeaux Heights cumulative | Mount Kembla cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,064 | $8,299 | $235 |
| Year 3 | $24,925 | $25,651 | $726 |
| Year 5 | $42,813 | $44,061 | $1,248 |
| Year 10 | $92,445 | $95,139 | $2,694 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cordeaux Heights or Mount Kembla cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cordeaux Heights runs $8,064 a year by car and Mount Kembla $8,299, but most of the $235 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $65. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Cordeaux Heights (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Mount Kembla (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cordeaux Heights and $1,548 in Mount Kembla. 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 Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,197 from Cordeaux Heights and $3,132 from Mount Kembla to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cordeaux Heights and $2,400 from Mount Kembla.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cordeaux Heights costs a cumulative $92,445 and Mount Kembla costs $95,139 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,694 in favour of Cordeaux Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla 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.