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.
Cordeaux Heights runs $335 a year cheaper than Mount Kembla, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,840.
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 →Cordeaux Heights
Mount Kembla
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cordeaux Heights | Mount Kembla | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,197 | $3,132 | +$65 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,400 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,564 | $8,899 | -$335 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,767 | $8,167 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $335 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,840 in favour of Cordeaux Heights.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,767 from Cordeaux Heights versus $8,167 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 $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 | $8,564 | $8,899 | $335 |
| Year 3 | $26,470 | $27,506 | $1,036 |
| Year 5 | $45,467 | $47,246 | $1,779 |
| Year 10 | $98,177 | $102,017 | $3,840 |
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?
Cordeaux Heights is cheaper to run by car at $8,564 per year versus $8,899 for Mount Kembla, a difference of $335 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $98,177 and Mount Kembla costs $102,017 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,840 in favour of Cordeaux Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cordeaux Heights and Mount Kembla 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.