Cordeaux Heights vs Unanderra, 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 Unanderra are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 73.2 km and 73.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $126 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 $1,400, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Unanderra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cordeaux Heights | Unanderra | 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 | $3,223 | -$26 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,600 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,064 | $8,190 | -$126 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,267 | $7,367 | -$100 |
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 | Unanderra | 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 Unanderra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cordeaux Heights and Unanderra differ by $126 a year by car, but $100 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 $26, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Unanderra carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,267 and $7,367 a year, so the $126 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 Cordeaux Heights by $26 a year, $3,197 against $3,223.
- Building insurance favours Cordeaux Heights by $100 a year, $1,500 against $1,600.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Unanderra against low in Cordeaux Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Cordeaux Heights against low in Unanderra, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cordeaux Heights cumulative | Unanderra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,064 | $8,190 | $126 |
| Year 3 | $24,925 | $25,314 | $389 |
| Year 5 | $42,813 | $43,482 | $669 |
| Year 10 | $92,445 | $93,889 | $1,444 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cordeaux Heights or Unanderra cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cordeaux Heights runs $8,064 a year by car and Unanderra $8,190, but most of the $126 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $26. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cordeaux Heights and Unanderra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Cordeaux Heights (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Unanderra (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cordeaux Heights and $1,548 in Unanderra. 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 Unanderra?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,197 from Cordeaux Heights and $3,223 from Unanderra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cordeaux Heights and $2,400 from Unanderra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cordeaux Heights and Unanderra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cordeaux Heights costs a cumulative $92,445 and Unanderra costs $93,889 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,444 in favour of Cordeaux Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cordeaux Heights and Unanderra 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.