Curramore vs Jamberoo, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Curramore and Jamberoo are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 94.4 km and 96.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Curramore runs $738 a year cheaper than Jamberoo, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,461.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,500, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Jamberoo
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Curramore | Jamberoo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,123 | $4,211 | -$88 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,150 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,130 | $9,868 | -$738 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,407 | $8,057 | -$650 |
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 | Curramore | Jamberoo | 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, Curramore vs Jamberoo (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Curramore and Jamberoo differ by $738 a year by car, but $650 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 $88, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Jamberoo carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,407 from Curramore versus $8,057 from Jamberoo.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,959 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Curramore by $88 a year, $4,123 against $4,211.
- Building insurance favours Curramore by $650 a year, $1,500 against $2,150.
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 Jamberoo against low in Curramore, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Jamberoo against medium in Curramore, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Curramore cumulative | Jamberoo cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,130 | $9,868 | $738 |
| Year 3 | $28,220 | $30,501 | $2,281 |
| Year 5 | $48,472 | $52,391 | $3,919 |
| Year 10 | $104,665 | $113,126 | $8,461 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Curramore or Jamberoo cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Curramore runs $9,130 a year by car and Jamberoo $9,868, but most of the $738 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $88. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Curramore and Jamberoo?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Curramore (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Jamberoo (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Curramore and $1,548 in Jamberoo. 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 Curramore and Jamberoo?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,123 from Curramore and $4,211 from Jamberoo to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Curramore and $2,400 from Jamberoo.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Curramore and Jamberoo?
At 3% annual cost growth, Curramore costs a cumulative $104,665 and Jamberoo costs $113,126 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,461 in favour of Curramore. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Curramore and Jamberoo suits you better?
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Sources: Kiama rates (OLG and Kiama 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.