Curramore vs Yellow Rock Ridge, 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 (Kiama rates (OLG) and Yellow Rock Ridge (Shellharbour rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (94.4 km and 92.6 km).
The two sit within $127 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 $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Curramore
Yellow Rock Ridge
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Curramore | Yellow Rock Ridge | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,865 | +$94 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,123 | $4,044 | +$79 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,130 | $9,257 | -$127 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,407 | $7,613 | -$206 |
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 | Yellow Rock Ridge | 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 Yellow Rock Ridge (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Curramore and Yellow Rock Ridge differ by $127 a year by car, but $300 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 $173, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $206 per year, $7,407 from Curramore versus $7,613 from Yellow Rock Ridge.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Yellow Rock Ridge by $94 a year, $1,865 against $1,959.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yellow Rock Ridge by $79 a year, $4,044 against $4,123.
- Building insurance favours Curramore by $300 a year, $1,500 against $1,800.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated high in Yellow Rock Ridge against medium in Curramore, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.1 in Curramore against 6.1 in Yellow Rock Ridge, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Curramore cumulative | Yellow Rock Ridge cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,130 | $9,257 | $127 |
| Year 3 | $28,220 | $28,612 | $392 |
| Year 5 | $48,472 | $49,147 | $675 |
| Year 10 | $104,665 | $106,121 | $1,456 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Curramore or Yellow Rock Ridge cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Curramore runs $9,130 a year by car and Yellow Rock Ridge $9,257, but most of the $127 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $173. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Curramore and Yellow Rock Ridge?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Curramore (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Yellow Rock Ridge (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Curramore and $1,548 in Yellow Rock Ridge. 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 Yellow Rock Ridge?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,123 from Curramore and $4,044 from Yellow Rock Ridge to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Curramore and $2,400 from Yellow Rock Ridge.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Curramore and Yellow Rock Ridge?
At 3% annual cost growth, Curramore costs a cumulative $104,665 and Yellow Rock Ridge costs $106,121 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,456 in favour of Curramore. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Curramore and Yellow Rock Ridge suits you better?
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: Kiama rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.