Croobyar vs Little Forest, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Croobyar and Little Forest are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $250 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 $2,900, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Little Forest
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Croobyar | Little Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,300 | $1,550 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,347 | $22,597 | -$250 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,347 | $22,597 | -$250 |
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 | Croobyar | Little Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Croobyar vs Little Forest (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Croobyar and Little Forest differ by $250 a year by car, but $250 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $22,347 from Croobyar versus $22,597 from Little Forest.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Croobyar by $250 a year, $1,300 against $1,550.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Little Forest against medium in Croobyar, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Croobyar cumulative | Little Forest cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,347 | $22,597 | $250 |
| Year 3 | $69,072 | $69,845 | $773 |
| Year 5 | $118,643 | $119,971 | $1,328 |
| Year 10 | $256,183 | $259,049 | $2,866 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Croobyar or Little Forest cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Croobyar runs $22,347 a year by car and Little Forest $22,597, but most of the $250 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Croobyar and Little Forest?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Croobyar (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Little Forest (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Croobyar and $1,300 in Little Forest. 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 Croobyar and Little Forest?
Croobyar 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. Little Forest 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Croobyar and Little Forest?
At 3% annual cost growth, Croobyar costs a cumulative $256,183 and Little Forest costs $259,049 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,866 in favour of Croobyar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Croobyar and Little Forest suits you better?
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Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven 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.