Cringila vs Warrawong: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cringila and Warrawong are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 74.2 km and 75.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cringila runs $393 a year cheaper than Warrawong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,505.
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 →Cringila
Warrawong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cringila | Warrawong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,241 | $3,284 | -$43 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $2,800 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,058 | $9,451 | -$393 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,217 | $8,567 | -$350 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Cringila | Warrawong | 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 — Cringila vs Warrawong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cringila costs $393 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,505 in favour of Cringila.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Warrawong carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $8,217 from Cringila versus $8,567 from Warrawong.
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 Cringila by $43 a year, $3,241 against $3,284.
- Building insurance favours Cringila by $350 a year, $2,450 against $2,800.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Warrawong against medium in Cringila, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Cringila against low in Warrawong, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.4 in Cringila against 3.3 in Warrawong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cringila cumulative | Warrawong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,058 | $9,451 | $393 |
| Year 3 | $27,997 | $29,212 | $1,215 |
| Year 5 | $48,090 | $50,177 | $2,087 |
| Year 10 | $103,840 | $108,345 | $4,505 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cringila or Warrawong cheaper to live in?
Cringila is cheaper to run by car at $9,058 per year versus $9,451 for Warrawong, a difference of $393 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cringila and Warrawong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Cringila (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Warrawong (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cringila and $1,548 in Warrawong. 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 Cringila and Warrawong?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,241 from Cringila and $3,284 from Warrawong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cringila and $2,400 from Warrawong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cringila and Warrawong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cringila costs a cumulative $103,840 and Warrawong costs $108,345 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,505 in favour of Cringila. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cringila and Warrawong 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.